Frank Fisher (rugby league) explained

Frank Fisher
Birth Date:1905
Birth Place:Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Club1:Barambah
Teama:Wide Bay
Yearastart:1932
Yearaend:36
Appearancesa:2

Frank Fisher (1905–1980) was an Aboriginal Australian professional rugby league footballer. Nicknamed "Big Shot" and "King" Fisher, he has been described as the Wally Lewis of Aboriginal Rugby league players.[1] He was named as a member of the Indigenous Australian Rugby League Team of the Century.[1] [2]

Family life

He was born 1905 in Townsville, Queensland[3] the son of Frank Fisher Sr and his wife Rosie Shilling. His father had served with the 11th Light Horse Regiment[4] but Fisher's attempt to follow in his father's footsteps in 1940 was blocked on racial grounds.[5] He is the paternal grandfather of Australian track athlete and Olympic gold medalist Cathy Freeman.[2] [6] [7]

Rugby league

In the 1930s Fisher was captain of the Barambah rugby league team.[8]

In 1932 and again in 1936 he played at half-back for the Wide Bay representative side against the Great Britain touring teams.[8] The English captain, Jim Brough, was reported as saying that "Fisher was the best country player the Englishmen had encountered."[9] On Brough's recommendation, Fisher was offered a contract to play club rugby league in Salford, England but the Queensland Government refused his application to travel under the Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of Sale of Opium Act 1897 (Qld).[8]

He has been described as "fast, with a distinctive side-step, playing either at fly-half or centre three-quarter."[9]

In 1946 he was still leading the Cherbourg team as captain to victory.[10]

Cricket

Fisher further displayed his athletic ability in cricket. On one occasion, playing for the Cherbourg A Grade side against Goomeri, he struck 105 (retired) in 32 minutes including 11 sixes and 5 fours. His side won by 294 on the first innings on a day when the Cherbourg side was without the usual services of fast bowler Eddie Gilbert. Fisher's feat was reported nationally.[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

Honours and awards

On 8 June 1996 a bridge over Barambah Creek, Cherbourg and named in his honour was opened.[4]

In 2010 Fisher was named as a member of Australian rugby league's Indigenous Team of the Century.[1] [17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Modern stars join greats in Indigenous Team of Century. 9 August 2008. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 March 2010.
  2. News: Indigenous NRL team named. Hemming. Wally. 9 September 2008. The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. 28 March 2010.
  3. Book: Tatz, Colin Tatz & Paul. Black gold : the Aboriginal and Islander sports hall of fame. 2000. Aboriginal Studies Press. Canberra. 978-0-85575-367-2.
  4. Catherine Freeman. 5 November 2011. Who Do You Think You Are? (Australian series). Jane Manning: researcher, writer and director. SBSTV (Australia). 3 February 2008. 1. 4.
  5. News: 4 Aborigines Not Allowed To Join A.I.F.. The Courier-Mail. Brisbane. 3 July 1940. 5 November 2011. 7. National Library of Australia. Four patriotic Australians of splendid physique cannot join the A.I.F. They are Frank Fisher, Jack Edwards, J. Hegarty and B. Turner, Barambah footballers. The reason given officially is that they are not of sufficiently European origin. They paid their own fares to Maryborough from the Cherbourg aboriginal settlement yesterday to have the matter cleared up. Several weeks ago they were passed by their own doctor as fit. Later they were called up and told to report to Maryborough to go before a medical board, and if passed to entrain for camp. Two hours before their departure they were advised not to leave..
  6. Web site: Herberton indigenous rugby players a link in the game's history. Davis. Sam. 23 June 2008. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 March 2010.
  7. Web site: First Indigenous Rugby League Footballers. Sean Fagan. Sean Fagan. rl1908.com. 30 March 2010.
  8. Web site: Jack O'Chin's Boomerang. Queensland Museum South Bank. The State of Queensland, Queensland Museum. 5 November 2011. 2011.
  9. News: Rugby League.. The Courier-Mail. Brisbane. 11 August 1937. 5 November 2011. 10. National Library of Australia.
  10. News: WOORABINDA TEAM TO PLAY TOMORROW.. The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld.. 14 September 1946. 5 November 2011. 11. National Library of Australia.
  11. News: Cricket As It Should Be Played.. Western Mail. Perth. 31 December 1936. 5 November 2011. 21. National Library of Australia.
  12. News: SOME BIG HITTING.. Townsville Daily Bulletin. Qld.. 22 December 1936. 5 November 2011. 10. National Library of Australia.
  13. News: Fast Scoring By Cherbourg Aboriginal Cricketers.. The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld.. 22 December 1936. 5 November 2011. 12. National Library of Australia.
  14. News: Aboriginal Whirlwinds.. The Argus. Melbourne. 22 December 1936. 5 November 2011. 13. National Library of Australia.
  15. News: Aborigines Make 435 In. Under Three Hours.. The Advertiser. Adelaide. 22 December 1936. 5 November 2011. 11. National Library of Australia.
  16. News: ABORIGINAL MAKES 105 IN 32 MINUTES.. The Courier-Mail. Brisbane. 22 December 1936. 5 November 2011. 9. National Library of Australia.
  17. Web site: Connolly. Paul. The forgotten story of … Frank Fisher. The Guardian. 22 February 2016.

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