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Dream team assembled for footy's Dreamtime at the 'G

By Michael Gordon

long walk london 2005 outside australian high commission

4 May 2006 - MICHAEL Long has just about done it all when it comes to the MCG. Twice he received premiership medals, once he was judged the best player in a grand final and many times he stood up against racism in sport and enthralled the crowd with his speed and skill.

But on Saturday night he will break new ground when he joins several of Australia's biggest names in music in the chorus of Yil Lull, the song by North Queensland composer Joe Geia that has become an anthem for indigenous Australia.

Among them will be Paul Kelly, whose colossal body of work includes songs that describe the "special treatment" meted out to the first Australians and narrate the stories of indigenous leaders and warriors. Others include Christine Anu, Peter Garrett, Renee Geyer and Kutcha Edwards.

The occasion will be the second annual Dreamtime at the 'G, a match between Richmond and Essendon, whose combined colours of red, black and yellow make up the Aboriginal flag.

Inspired by Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy, it celebrates the contribution of indigenous players and shows how sport can be a bridge to reconciliation.

It will also launch this year's Michael Long walk, a separate event that began as an impulsive plea for the plight of Aboriginal Australia to be taken seriously by the nation's political leaders. Kelly believes practical and symbolic measures are part of the solution, and says both will be evident at the MCG on Saturday and at the Long Walk, which raises money to develop young indigenous leaders.

"Serious disadvantage in our community is a problem for all of us, so the more we can shine a light on some problems and work our way to solve them, the better," Kelly told The Age yesterday.

Kelly became interested in "the other side of our history" after being struck by how little was taught about Aboriginal history and culture in school. He is fascinated by the stories of warrior-outlaws such as Jundamurra, the West Kimberley tracker-turned-outlaw.

"I've always believed that these should be big figures in our history, like Geronimo is in American history."

Long's hope is that the Dreamtime at the 'G will highlight the role football plays in bringing together indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

His ambition is that the day and the walk will just keep getting bigger. Quoting Kelly's song about the Gurindju's defiant stand over their land at Wattie Creek, he says: "From little things big things grow."

Source; The Age

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