John Kundereri Moriarty facts for kids

John Kundereri "Jumbana" Moriarty is an important Aboriginal Australian artist, government advisor, and former soccer player. He was born around 1938. He is also famous for starting the Balarinji Design Studio. This studio painted two Qantas airplanes with beautiful Aboriginal designs.

John Moriarty is a full member of the Yanyuwa people from his birthplace. He is connected to the rainbow serpent and kangaroo Dreamings through his culture. He has held many important jobs in government, working to help Aboriginal people. He has always supported Indigenous rights and Indigenous arts.

Early Life and Learning

John Moriarty was born in Borroloola, Northern Territory in Australia. His mother was an Aboriginal woman named Kathleen, and his father was an Irish man. When he was four years old, he was taken away from his mother. This made him part of the Stolen Generation, a group of Aboriginal children who were removed from their families. He did not see his mother again for 10 years.

Before he was taken, he only spoke the Yanyuwa language. His Aboriginal name is Jumbana, and his formal ceremonial name is Kundareri. Kundareri connects him to his culture and sacred ceremonies. Jumbana is a more informal name, like a nickname, given by older people in his community.

After being moved from his school during World War II, he went to a home for Aboriginal children in Mulgoa, New South Wales near Sydney. In 1949, he moved to St Francis House in Adelaide. There, he met other young Aboriginal people who would become important leaders. These included Gordon Briscoe, Charlie Perkins, and Vincent Copley.

It was at St Francis House that John Moriarty started playing soccer. He loved the sport and became very good at it. In 1970, he made history by becoming the first Aboriginal person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Flinders University. He also received a Churchill Fellowship, which helps people travel to learn new things.

Working for Indigenous Rights

In 1964, John Moriarty helped start the Aborigines' Progress Association in South Australia. He became the vice-president of this group. They worked hard to get land rights for Aboriginal people. They also helped set up legal services for Indigenous communities.

He was also part of a group that ran the Aboriginal Publications Foundation. This foundation published a magazine called Identity in the 1970s. The magazine shared stories and news for Indigenous people.

Soccer Journey

John Moriarty played association football (soccer) for several teams in South Australia. He played for Port Thistle, Adelaide Juventus, and Adelaide Croatia. His cousin, Charlie Perkins, and other friends from St Francis House also played with him.

In 1960, he was chosen to play for the state of South Australia. To travel for the game, he needed special permission from the "Protector of Aborigines." This shows how difficult things were for Aboriginal people at the time. Also in 1960, John Moriarty was the first recognized Indigenous Australian to be chosen for a national soccer team. He was picked to play for the Australian national team on a trip to Hong Kong. However, the trip was cancelled because Australia was removed from FIFA at that time.

John Moriarty's soccer career ended after he was injured in a game. He had played for South Australia 17 times. After he stopped playing, he joined the board of Adelaide Juventus, the team he once played for.

John Moriarty Football

John Moriarty and his wife, Ros Moriarty, started John Moriarty Football (JMF). This program helps young Indigenous soccer players. It focuses on getting kids involved in soccer from a young age. JMF also gives scholarships to talented young players.

The program has been praised by FIFA, the world's soccer governing body. Famous soccer players like Tim Cahill have also supported it. As of 2020, Craig Foster, a well-known former footballer, is on the board of JMF.

One of the first players to get a scholarship from JMF was Shay Evans. She played her first game for the Young Matildas (Australia's national youth women's team) in 2018. As of 2020, she plays in the W-League, a top women's soccer league.

In November 2020, JMF started a new program called the Community Scholarships Pathways Program. This program offers soccer training and helps with education. JMF also works with Football Australia to train coaches and leaders. They focus on including Indigenous people and making sure there are equal numbers of boys and girls. JMF is one of many projects run by the Moriarty Foundation.

Indigenous Football Week

Indigenous Football Week started in 2015. It is an event created by JMF, working with Football Australia and other partners. It celebrates Indigenous involvement in soccer. The fifth Indigenous Football Week was held in JMF communities in the Northern Territory, New South Wales, and Queensland.

Australian rules footballer Adam Goodes was a patron for Indigenous Football Week in 2020.

Art and Design Work

In 1983, John Moriarty started the Jumbana Group in Adelaide. The most famous part of this group is the Balarinji brand.

In 1994, the Australian airline Qantas asked John Moriarty to design artwork for one of their Boeing 747-400 airplanes. The design was called "Wunala Dreaming." It was first shown on a plane with the registration VH-OJB, and later on VH-OEJ. This was called "the largest piece of movable Aboriginal art." A second plane, a Boeing 747-300, was painted in 1995. It was named "Nalanji Dreaming" (VH-EBU).

He also helped repaint two NR class locomotive trains with Indigenous designs. His wife, Ros Moriarty, is the managing director of the Jumbana Group and the creative director of Balarinji Studio.

Other Important Roles

Before starting Balarinji, John Moriarty worked for the government in different departments that helped Aboriginal people. In the late 1970s, he met Aboriginal activist Charlie Perkins in Canberra. John Moriarty and others were sometimes called Charlie's "angels" because they worked closely with him.

From 1994 to 2004, John Moriarty was on the board of Indigenous Business Australia. He has also served on many other important boards and councils. These include the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, the National Indigenous Council, and the South Australian Museum. He has also led groups like the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board of the Australia Council.

In 2000, he wrote a book about his life called Saltwater Fella.

Awards and Recognitions

John Moriarty has received many awards and honors for his work:

• 1971 – Received a Churchill Fellowship
• 1992 – Named South Australian Aboriginal Businessman of the Year
• 1995 – Received an Advance Australia Award for his work in business
• 1997 – Given an Honorary doctorate from University of South Australia
• 2000 – Became a Member of the Order of Australia
• 2001 – Received the Flinders University Convocation Medal
• 2014 – Added to the Australian Design Hall of Fame
• 2015 – Added to the Football Australia Hall of Fame
• 2016 – Received another Honorary doctorate from Flinders University
• 2018 – Received the Diversity Award from FIFA

Family Life

John Moriarty married Ros Moriarty in 1982. Ros was born in Tasmania and studied at Australian National University. She worked as a journalist and held senior roles in the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. She also received an Advance Australia Award. In 2010, Ros published her own memoir called Listening to Country.

John and Ros Moriarty have three children.