My Journey with Anthony McDonald -Tipungwuti
Separated by generations and great distance, Merv Keane, and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti from the Tiwi Islands, were brought together by their love of Australian Rules Football.
But there is more to this story than football.
This is a story about overcoming hardship and obstacles through hard work and determination and fulfilling a dream that would seem out of reach to most.
The story unfolds as Merv immerses himself into the Australian and Tiwi Indigenous cultures in an effort to understand.
PREFACE
“You don’t understand, you don’t understand.” These words Jane McDonald keeps repeating to me.I listen and I am trying to understand. I am trying to make sense of everything. But I cannot keep up which is developing into stress and frustration. Jane’s thoughts are exploding in multiple directions, and I am having trouble connecting the dots.
In a light bulb moment, I say to her – “That is a good title for the book .... You Don’t Understand.”
Jane is the white mum of Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti. She is straight down the line and uncomplicated, with a heart of gold. She does not often draw breath when she is on a verbal roller coaster. She wears her heart on her sleeve and has no filter. She is as tough as nails and has been through hell. She sometimes needs her own space to find peace.
Here is the story of Anthony, her ‘adopted’ son, from a teenager to a young man who we may never fully understand. But his life slowly emerges like the peeling of an onion, the multiple layers of an onion. And as with an onion, elements of his story may bring a tear to your eye.
His growth takes us on an extraordinary journey. From many places and many experiences on Tiwi Islands, to the Top End of Australia and the Red Centre. From his family and community on Tiwi to his new world family in the Gippsland region of Victoria. From his name change to McDonald-Tipungwuti, through the day to day grind, to his triumphs and struggles, and the frequent wrestling with his demons. And all the way with his football progression.
Anthony was born in Darwin hospital, and was named after his maternal grandfather. He was raised on Tiwi where he says he grew up without much love or fun ... with a lot of anger.
From birth, he acquired a medical condition which transpired into a learning disability – or a learning need – as he describes it.
From a low intellectual base, he continues to achieve many things in a unique and humble way. His personality always shines through. And with direction from Jane and opportunities from many, he becomes a beacon for generations to follow, a man of the people, a face of the AFL.
He starts as a Rookie in the AFL, modest without ego, exciting to watch and scrupulously fair in a brutally competitive sport, incredibly tough, resilient and courageous.
Following an Anzac Day clash at the MCG, his coach called it as he saw it when he said to the media – “Get out of the way and let him play.”
From these humble beginnings it is hard to envisage a more compelling story about a boy named Anthony. He is a fun loving, beautiful man. He has endured and he continues to endure. And while searching through this young man’s life, I came to realise many of us have a similar story to tell. A lot of his story resonated with me on the farm at Wycheproof, in terms of dreams and remoteness. And although we come from different backgrounds, our lead into football is connected. Like a parallel universe many decades apart.
