Lloyd McDermott facts for kids
| Birth name | Lloyd Clive McDermott | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 11 November 1939 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Eidsvold, Queensland, Australia | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 6 April 2019 (aged 79) | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | ||||||||||||||||
| School | Anglican Church Grammar School | ||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Queensland, University of Sydney, University of New South Wales | ||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
Lloyd Clive McDermott (born November 1, 1939 – died April 6, 2019) was an amazing Australian. He was also known as Mullenjaiwakka. Lloyd was a talented barrister (a type of lawyer who speaks in court) and a great rugby union player. He made history by becoming the first Aboriginal barrister. He was also the second Aboriginal person to play rugby for Australia, joining the famous Wallabies team. In 1962, he played against the New Zealand All Blacks. Later, he made a brave choice. During a time called apartheid in South Africa (when people were separated by race), he refused to play. He didn't want to be called an "honorary white" just to be allowed to play.
Contents
Early Life and School
Lloyd McDermott was born on November 1, 1939, in Eidsvold, Queensland. His family had links to the Mununjali clan and Wakka Wakka people. His father worked on a farm. Lloyd was very good at school and sports. Because of his talents, he won a special scholarship. This allowed him to attend the Anglican Church Grammar School in East Brisbane.
Rugby Career Highlights
Lloyd was an outstanding athlete when he was at school. He went on to play as a wing for the Australia national rugby union team, also known as the Wallabies. This made him the second Indigenous player to represent Australia in rugby.
Playing for Queensland
While studying law at the University of Queensland, he played 10 rugby union matches for Queensland. He played against teams from Fiji, France, and the New Zealand "All Blacks."
Playing for the Wallabies
In 1962, he played two important Test matches for the Wallabies against the All Blacks.
A Principled Stand
In 1963, the Wallabies were planning a tour to South Africa. However, Lloyd refused to go. At that time, South Africa had a system called apartheid. This system separated people based on their race. To play against the all-white South African Springbok team, Lloyd would have been classified as an "honorary white." He strongly objected to this. He believed it was wrong to be treated differently because of his race. His decision showed his strong principles.
Return to Rugby League
After this, he briefly returned to rugby league. In 1964, he played for the Wynnum Manly club.
A Career in Law
Lloyd Clive McDermott became Australia's first Indigenous barrister. After finishing his law degree, he worked in the Commonwealth Deputy Crown Solicitor's Office. Later, he was officially allowed to work as a barrister in New South Wales.
Further Studies
He also continued his education. He earned degrees in science and criminology from the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales.
Later Legal Work
In his later years, he worked part-time as a barrister. He mostly focused on crime cases and appeals (asking a higher court to review a decision). He was also a part-time member of the Mental Health Tribunal of New South Wales. He was also a trustee for the New South Wales Bar Association Indigenous Lawyers' Trust.
Helping the Community
Throughout his life, Lloyd McDermott spent a lot of time and energy helping Indigenous young people. He wanted to create more opportunities for them, both boys and girls.
Lloyd McDermott Sports Foundation
He founded the Lloyd McDermott Sports Foundation. This foundation works with the Australian Sports Foundation. The Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team helps young people achieve their dreams. They do this through:
- Development camps
- Educational scholarships
- Mentoring programs
The team also holds camps, training sessions, and competitions. They often work with the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE).
Other Contributions
He also served as an Ambassador for the Indigenous Fund of the Brisbane Boys College.
Recognition and Legacy
Lloyd McDermott's important work and brave decisions have been recognized.
Mullenjaiwakka Trust
In 2009, a special trust was launched at the Bar Association of Queensland Annual Conference. It was called the Mullenjaiwakka Trust for Indigenous Legal Students. This trust was named in honor of McDermott (Mullenjaiwakka). Its goal is to help Indigenous law students pursue a career as a barrister.
Queensland Greats Award
In 2016, Lloyd McDermott received the Queensland Greats Awards. This award celebrates people who have made a significant contribution to Queensland.
