Pastor Doug Nicholls...(Subiaco 1935).
Today Sir Doug Nicholls, an Aboriginal Australian preacher appeared on an Australia Post postage stamp 50 years after being knighted by the Queen.
"Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls, a Yorta Yorta man, born at the Cummeragunja Aboriginal Mission, began his footballing career with the Fitzroy Football Club in the VFL and was the only Aboriginal player in the league. He played with Fitzroy until a knee injury ended his football career in 1937.
Following the death of his mother, he re-embraced Christianity, was ordained as a preacher in 1945 and became the inaugural pastor of the first Aboriginal Church of Christ in Australia. He and his wife, Lady Gladys, would go on to become passionate advocates for Aboriginal rights and welfare, and in 1972 Sir Doug was the first Indigenous Australian to receive a knighthood..." (Courtney Howe, 2022)
Over 85 years ago in 1935 Doug Nicholls played in a football match between Western Australia and Victoria. He then spoke to large congregations in the Subiaco Church of Christ and the Fremantle Church of Christ. Doug's speeches were recorded in detail and published in the West Australian newspaper.
The article and photograph is from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia.
West Australian, 25 June 1935.
WITNESSING FOR CHRIST.
Aboriginal Footballer's Sermon.
After having played a splendid game for his side in the football match between Victoria and Western Australia on Saturday. D. Nicholls the full-blooded aboriginal member of the Victorian team on Sunday stood before large congregations in the Subiaco Church of Christ in the morning and in the Fremantle Church of Christ in the evening and testified in slow, deliberate style, and with the use of only a few notes, to his faith in the Christian Gospel Nicholls intends ultimately to become a missionary to his own people. He has been and still is in great demand as a preacher in and around Melbourne.
The speaker chose as the text for his sermon at Subiaco St. Luke 9: 1 and 2, "He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And He sent them to preach the Kingdom of Godd and to heal the sick.'"He began by stat ing that he was only a "baby" in Christ. "It is not very long ago," he went on, "that I reversed the course of my life to follow Christ. I was fortunate enough to have done well in sport in Victoria, and the result was that, being well-known and popular, I was carried away by the sporting public of Victoria, wandering about everywhere in sin, until one night I was brought to know that if my life was to count for anything worth while, Christ should be governing it. I often think how different my life would have been if my heart had been closed that night. I would still have been a condemned sinner and would not have known the fulness of joy in Christ. He has given me power to witness for Him in the sport that I have chosen. Last, but not least, He has given me a passion to be of service for Him amongst my own people
"Although Christ was not on earth to day, he proceeded, His power was still given to His disciples to whom the call came to go into all the world and preach the Gospel." The progress of the early disciples was triumphant and victorious and nothing should be too difficult for those to whom Christ's authority and power were vouchsafed today. Here ferred to those who had laid down their lives in foreign fields for the sake of the Gospel, instancing amongst others, Mr. W. Waterman, formerly of Western Australia, who died in China, and Studd, the famous English cricketer, who "laid down his bat to serve Christ in Africa."
Jesus had said, "Ye shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judaea and Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth," and this was a command for modern Christians no less than for those amongst whom Christ moved. "We must be witnesses first at Jerusalem, which means at home," he explained. "We are to preach Him at home by living right and beautiful lives. We will do more by practising than by preaching. Nevertheless, we must speak a word for Christ as opportunity offers and if our words are backed up by a right life they will produce excellent results. It is a pity that we keep to our selves the good news of Jesus when thou sands need the news of such an One."
"We are also to witness in Judaea, our own community. It should be the aim of every church to reach every home in the community, personally and not by sending hirelings with tracts to put under doors. We are to take the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the world. Our labour is not in vain in Christ, and it has its sure reward. Even those who labour in the harvest fields have their work in vain. Many a man has sown his seed and passed away before the time of harvest. Many a man has planted a crop, but after all his labour that crop has failed and he has received no return for his toil. But in the service of Christ the return of labour is certain, and although we may never see the harvest ourselves, there will be a harvest." Mr. Nicholls was given a dinner last night by the Churches of Christ Conference.
"Sir Doug Nicholls recognised with postage stamp on 50th anniversary of his knighthood
ABC Shepparton By Courtney Howe" 6 July 2022.
"After years of waiting, Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls has been recognised for his significant contribution to Australian society with Australia Post releasing a stamp in his honour
The stamp commemorates the 50th anniversary of the knighting of Sir Doug, the first Aboriginal Australian to be knighted, and coincides with NAIDOC Week.
Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls, a Yorta Yorta man, born at the Cummeragunja Aboriginal Mission, began his footballing career with the Fitzroy Football Club in the VFL and was the only Aboriginal player in the league.
He played with Fitzroy until a knee injury ended his football career in 1937.
He was also appointed Governor of South Australia before he resigned due to poor health in April 1977.
Following the death of his mother, he re-embraced Christianity, was ordained as a preacher in 1945 and became the inaugural pastor of the first Aboriginal Church of Christ in Australia.
He and his wife, Lady Gladys, would go on to become passionate advocates for Aboriginal rights and welfare, and in 1972 Sir Doug was the first Indigenous Australian to receive a knighthood.
Australia Post's executive general manager of retail Catriona Noble said it was special to be able to mark the occasion in this way.
"It's about celebrating Indigenous culture but it's for all of us to celebrate and be really proud of," she said.
The daughter of Sir Doug and Lady Gladys, Aunty Pam Pederson, said the family had been waiting for years to have the stamp after her niece, Bev Murray, wrote to Australia Post requesting it.
"I feel so emotional and it's wonderful," Ms Pederson said.
"She was writing letters to Australia Post enquiring about a stamp being launched for Dad.
"Now it has happened after so many years and we're so grateful."
Ms Pederson said her dad would have been humbled by the honour, and she hoped the story of her father would be spread right across Australia.
"I do hope the teachers in some of the schools have that stamp to show the children," she said.
"Then the education starts with the teachers telling the students about who my father was and what he did for our people."
The photo on the stamp is of Sir Doug at Government House, and Ms Pederson said it was the perfect photo of a day she would never forget.
"I look at that photo and every time I look at it I think how hot it was that particular day," she said.
"I remember some of the people were fainting because they had to stand up so straight and it was the hottest day, so I will never forget that."
