David Pocock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Pocock
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Pocock in 2022
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| Senator for the Australian Capital Territory | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 21 May 2022 Serving with Katy Gallagher (since 2019)
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| Preceded by | Zed Seselja | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born |
David Willmer Pocock
23 April 1988 Messina, Transvaal, South Africa |
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| Citizenship |
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| Political party | Independent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Emma Palandri
(m. 2018) |
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| Residences | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education |
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| Ethnicity | Zimbabwean Australian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signature |  |
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Rugby career
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| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 103 kg (227 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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David Willmer Pocock (born 23 April 1988) is an Australian politician and a former professional rugby union player. He grew up in Zimbabwe and later moved to Australia as a teenager. David became a well-known player for the Australian national rugby team, often playing as an "openside flanker" (a key defensive position). He was also a vice-captain for the Brumbies team in the Super Rugby competition.
After retiring from rugby, David became involved in protecting the environment and speaking up for social justice. In 2022, he ran as an independent candidate for the Australian Senate, which is part of Australia's parliament. He won a seat for the Australian Capital Territory, becoming the first independent to do so since 1975.
Contents
Early Life: From Zimbabwe to Australia
David Pocock was born on 23 April 1988 in Messina, South Africa. He is the oldest of three sons. His family lived on a large farm in Zimbabwe, where they grew vegetables and flowers and raised cattle. David started playing rugby at Midlands Christian College.
In 2000, his family's farm was taken over by the government as part of land reforms in Zimbabwe. David's parents decided to move to Australia. They received their Australian visas in 2002 and settled in Brisbane.
David continued his education at the Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane. In 2005, he played on his school's undefeated rugby team. That same year, he was chosen to play for the Australian Schoolboys team, showing his early talent in rugby.
Rugby Career: A Star on the Field
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David Pocock began his professional rugby career in 2006, playing for the Force team. He quickly made a name for himself, playing for the Australian Schoolboys and later for Australia A. In late 2008, he made his debut for the Australian national team, known as the Wallabies.
In 2009, David had a breakthrough year, playing in most of Australia's international matches. He even scored his first try (like a touchdown in American football) for Australia. He became a key player, known for his strong defensive skills.
In 2010, David became the top choice for his position on the Wallabies. He won the John Eales Medal, which is the highest award in Australian Rugby. He was also nominated for the IRB Player of the Year, an award for the best rugby player in the world. He was a finalist for this international award again in 2011.
David even captained the Wallabies in 2012 when the regular captain was injured. After the 2012 season, he moved to play for the ACT Brumbies team. Unfortunately, he had some serious knee injuries in 2013 and 2014, which required surgery.
Despite his injuries, David returned to play. In 2015, he helped Australia win the Rugby Championship. He also scored two tries in Australia's first game of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
In 2016, David signed a deal to play for the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan. This deal allowed him to continue playing for Australia in the 2019 Rugby World Cup. On 6 September 2019, he announced he would retire from international rugby after the World Cup. He officially retired from all forms of rugby on 23 October 2020, to focus on environmental work.
Post-Rugby Career: Activism and Education
After his rugby career, David Pocock continued his education. In 2021, he earned a Master's degree in Sustainable Agriculture from Charles Sturt University. He had started this degree in 2013 while still playing rugby.
Activism: Speaking Up for Change
David Pocock is known for his strong beliefs and activism.
Protecting the Environment
In 2012, he supported the Australian Government's plan to put a price on carbon emissions, saying it was an important step for the future. In 2014, he joined a nonviolent protest against a coal mine expansion. He was arrested for taking part in this protest, showing his commitment to protecting the environment.
Supporting Equality
David has been a strong supporter of same-sex marriage in Australia. He and his partner, Emma, had a marriage ceremony in 2010 but refused to legally sign their marriage documents until all Australians had the right to marry. After Australia passed a law allowing same-sex marriage in 2017, they officially signed their marriage papers in 2018.
Advocating for Accessibility
David also works to make things more accessible for people who are hearing-impaired. When he gave his first speech as a Senator, he wanted to have an Auslan (Australian Sign Language) interpreter on the Senate floor. Although this was initially difficult, a compromise was reached to show an interpreter on screens. David continues to push for rules that would allow interpreters directly on the Senate floor. He even used an Auslan sign for applause during a rugby match once, to show support for a friend.
Political Career: Becoming a Senator
In December 2021, David Pocock announced he would run as an independent candidate for the Australian Senate. He wanted to bring a fresh, independent voice to parliament and improve how politicians are held accountable.
On 14 June 2022, David was officially elected as a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory. He defeated the sitting Liberal Senator, Zed Seselja. This was a big moment because David became the first non-Labor or Liberal candidate to be elected as a Senator for the ACT since 1975. This showed that people wanted a different kind of representation in parliament.
As a Senator, David has been involved in important discussions. He has worked to create an "Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee" that gives advice on welfare payments. He has also spoken about the need to help people who are most in need in Australia. David Pocock is currently the Independent ACT Whip for the Australian Senate, which means he helps organize the independent senators.
David Pocock (Party): A Name on the Ballot
The David Pocock political party was started by David Pocock in 2021. In Australia, having a registered political party allows a candidate's name and logo to appear in a more visible spot on the ballot paper. This can help voters find and choose them more easily.
The David Pocock party was officially registered on 18 March 2022. Even though he has his own party, David Pocock is listed as an independent politician on the parliamentary website. After the 2022 election, the party received significant donations, including from a group called Climate 200, which supports independent candidates focused on climate action.
Personal Life
David Pocock is married to Emma Palandri.
He also co-founded a non-profit organization called Eightytwenty Vision. This group aimed to support health, food, and water security in Zimbabwe. The charity's registration was later voluntarily ended in 2018.
Images for kids
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Pocock in 2016
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See also
In Spanish: David Pocock para niños
