In the leadup to Reconciliation Week, Indigenous Olympians and Paralympians shared their stories with the bi-partisan Queensland Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG), which was established in 2021.

Olympians including Danny Morseu, Patrick Johnson and Brad Hore and Paralympian Torita Blake shared their own athletic journeys and the impact sport can have on communities around Australia with guests, including members of Parliament, AOC President Ian Chesterman, Paralympics Australia President Jock O’Callaghan and Queensland Olympic sport representatives.

Brad, a dual Olympian Dunghutti boxer, also ran an interactive Indigenous painting session, with all attendees adding coloured paint dots to a canvas representing the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, while Shannon Ruska provided a Welcome to Turrbal and Yuggera Country, sharing traditional local dances.

AOC President Ian Chesterman acknowledged the tremendous impact Indigenous athletes have had on the Olympic movement in Australia.

“Australia has been represented by 60 known Indigenous athletes, including a record 16 First Nations athletes in the Australian Olympic Team that competed in Tokyo last year,” Mr Chesterman said. “From Patty Mills becoming the first Indigenous Australian Olympic Flag Bearer last year, to the iconic Cathy Freeman, Indigenous athletes are at the heart of so many Olympic moments.”

“With 45 member sports, participants from every age group, background and region of Australia; and community programs that reach into thousands of schools and communities around the country, the Olympic movement has both an opportunity and responsibility to our First Nations peoples, to give practical support to Indigenous reconciliation through sport.

“I am proud of the steps the AOC has taken to recognise and promote the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, including the establishment of the Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC), working to establish our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2021 and ongoing work on our next ‘Engage’ RAP, and the integration of Indigenous artwork throughout the Australian Olympic Team Villages and uniforms. But there is a long way to go.

“Sport has the power to heal and unite. The opportunity of Brisbane 2032 gives a 10-year green and gold runway and an opportunity to further promote and work towards Indigenous reconciliation through sport. The AOC will continue to embed our rich Indigenous history into all aspects of the Australian Olympic Team, and share the Olympic spirit with Indigenous Australians from cities to remote communities.”

Proud Kaanju man, dual Olympian, Chair of the IAC and Australia’s fastest ever 100m sprinter Patrick Johnson reflected on the power of connections to promote reconciliation.

“To be able to showcase our culture to the world is a celebration of this country,” Patrick said. “We talk about reconciling with Aboriginal people, but it's actually a part of this country and every single person has an opportunity to be part of that journey because we can't do it alone.

“My culture is always special to me, I could travel the world but I was never lonely – I knew where I was from and my connection to my culture and my people.”

“We need people as part of this reconciliation journey to ask, ‘Can I be a part of it?’, and of course you can, because this is part of who you are in this country. This great connection we have in Australia means every single person has an opportunity.

“Leading into Brisbane 2032, what are incredible time that we can be a part of to showcase our culture not only to Australians but to the rest of the world, what we can actually do together.”

Torres Strait Islander Danny Morseu represented Australia in basketball at the Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984 Games.

“I was a young kid growing up in Torres Strait, I didn’t know where I was going when I left aged 15,” Danny shared. “I ended up in Cairns, playing basketball and football, and I was so lucky basketball took me around the world.

“Our first game against Cuba at the Moscow Olympic Games. I reflect back, I had goosebumps, thinking about how this young kid from the Torres Strait made it over there, and how proud I was to be a Torres Strait Islander - representing my community, my people and my country.

“When I was playing for Australia, we played for the love of the game, to be proud to wear the green and gold. That journey for me was beautiful, and I thank my grandparents and my mum for supporting me to achieve my aspirations in life.”

PFG Co-Chairs Joe Kelly MP and Tim Mander MP thanked the athletes and guests for sharing in the event.

“Thank you to everyone who supported tonight,” Mr Kelly said. “We should all step away from tonight’s event knowing this isn’t just about Reconciliation Week – it’s something we should be working at all the time. It’s clear the Olympic and Paralympic movements are committed to this.”

“I come away from tonight inspired,” Mr Mander added. “Patrick, Torita and Danny are such impressive people and we’re privileged to have you here. Thank you for the inspiration I know I’ve left with and I’m sure many more people in the room too.”