Sir Doug Nicholls

Governor of South Australia, footballer, and Indigenous activist

• Born: December 9, 1906
• Birthplace: Cummeragunja Reserve, New South Wales, Australia
• Died: June 4, 1988
• Place of death: Mooroopna, Victoria, Australia

Also known as: Douglas Ralph Nicholls

Significance: Sir Douglas Nicholls of the Yorta Yorta tribe in Australia gained fame as a football player, runner, and boxer. He worked as an activist for the Aboriginal people of Australia, seeking equal rights and opportunities. Nicholls later served as Governor of South Australia and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

Background

Douglas Ralph Nicholls was born on December 9, 1906, in Cummeragunja Reserve, New South Wales, Australia. His parents, Herbert Nicholls and Florence Atkinson, had five children, with Nicholls being the youngest. The family was a member of the Aboriginal Yorta Yorta tribe.

During his early years, Nicholls and his siblings lived under the rules of the Aborigines Protection Board, which asserted control over Indigenous people. Notably, the Aborigines Protection Act gave the board the authority to remove any children from their homes at any time. Nicholls witnessed the removal of his older sister Hilda as a young child. At age fourteen, he too was removed from the home to begin work as a laborer. His jobs included working as a tar boy and ranch hand on sheep stations alongside his uncle. He also worked with dredging teams, helping to construct levees. This labor continued throughout Nicholls’ teenage years. During his childhood, Nicholls also developed his athletic skills, playing football like many other children. During his years as a laborer, he continued to play football and box, serving as a sign of his future career in athletics.

Athletic Career

Nicholls’ speed and strength allowed him to transform his athletic skills into a successful career in athletics. In the 1920s, professional running was a popular sport in Australia, and his speed allowed Nicholls to compete competitively in running. He won two races, the Nyah and Warracknabeal Gifts, in 1928. In the coming years, Nicholls secured a spot on the Australian Rules football team in Northcote, which was a suburb of Melbourne. As the only Aboriginal football player at the time, Nicholls earned the nickname “the Flying Abo.” He played in the league for five seasons, earning the title of “best and fairest” twice, competing in three grand finals, and winning the championship once.

Over the course of his athletic career, Nicholls played on several football teams. In 1935, he joined the Fitzroy Football Club, with which he played for six seasons. He then returned to Northcote to finish his football career, which was ended by knee injuries. However, Nicholls’ time in athletics did not stop there. He returned to Northcote to serve as a non-playing coach to conclude his time as a footballer. Nicholls also served as the inaugural chairman of the National Aboriginal Sports Foundation.

Activism and Politics

Following the death of his mother, Nicholls was baptized in the Church of Christ chapel in Northcote in 1932. Soon after, he founded the first Aboriginal Church of Christ in Australia, located in a Melbourne suburb, and became its pastor. He simultaneously joined the quest for greater rights and protections for Aboriginal people. Nicholls’ uncle, William Cooper, was an Aboriginal activist and served as his inspiration. He took over his uncle’s role as the secretary of the Australian Aboriginals League (AAL) in 1940 and worked for states’ control over Aboriginal affairs to be shifted to the federal government. He sought to better the lives of Aboriginal people by opening hostels in Melbourne that offered food, shelter, and support for those people looking to start a better life.

In 1941, Nicholls joined the Civilian Military Forces, serving a year in the army after his training. After his brief military service, Nicholls worked out of his chapel alongside his wife Gladys to provide support to Aboriginal people in need. They built grocery and opportunity shops, taught Sunday school, and created an Aboriginal Girls’ Hostel in 1956.

One year later, Nicholls and other activists founded the Victorian Aborigines Advancement League, which worked against assimilation policies and raised awareness nationally of the issues and challenges that Aboriginal people faced at that time. Other leadership roles included serving as a foundation member of the Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement and co-founder of the National Tribal Council.

Queen Elizabeth II knighted Nicholls in 1972, making him the first Aboriginal knight. At the time, he stated that he hoped the knighthood would help Aboriginal people receive the fair treatment they deserve. Nicholls had a short term as Governor of South Australia. He was appointed to the role on December 1, 1976. However, he faced persistent health problems soon after his term began, which limited his ability to perform his official duties. Following a stroke, Nicholls relinquished his role as governor on April 30, 1977.

Impact

Although Sir Doug Nicholls first made his name known in Australia as a footballer, his activism and support of Aboriginal people had a lasting impact. His efforts helped support Aboriginal people and give them access to more rights and opportunities.

Personal Life

Nicholls married Gladys Nicholls, the widow of his brother, in December 1942. The couple raised six children, two sons and four daughters, three of whom were Gladys’ children from her first marriage.

Bibliography

“Aborigines Protection Act.” National Museum Australia, www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/aborigines-protection-act. Accessed 21 June 2023.

Broome, Richard. “Nicholls, Sir Douglas Ralph (Doug) (1906–1988).” Australian Dictionary of Biography, adb.anu.edu.au/biography/nicholls-sir-douglas-ralph-doug-14920. Accessed 21 June 2023.

Holdsworth, Ron. “From the Archives, 1972: Pastor Doug Nicholls Knighted.” The Age, 2 June 2022, www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/from-the-archives-1972-pastor-doug-nicholls-knighted-20220517-p5am6h.html. Accessed 21 June 2023.

“The Incredible Story of Sir Doug Nicholls.” Amnesty International, www.amnesty.org.au/sir-doug-nicholls/. Accessed 21 June 2023.