Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls Character Analysis

Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls contributed a great deal to Australian society, he was a person for all people not just for the Indigenous community. After his football career ended he devoted his life for the advancement of the Indigenous community. His work as a pastor, social worker and later in political life demanding audiences with people like Sir Henry Bolte convincing them of the needs for greater support. Adam Goodes is the individual I will be comparing with Doug.
Both individuals had the common theme of sporting achievements in their earlier lives. They also experienced racism in varying forms, Doug during his football career from within his own team and out on the field. Adam experienced racism throughout his life, this focused in the later part of his football career, constant booing occurred when he approached the ball in the 2015 season. In a show of solidarity many clubs in late July and early August of 2015 wore their Indigenous jumpers with Bob Murphy from the Western Bulldogs changing his jumper number to Adam’s 37 before the start of the game. Both individuals have displayed a strong sense of identity to their Indigenous origins, enabling them to overcome different …show more content…
To counter this Doug and Adam both had strong parental influences within their lives, Doug’s mother was very proud of her heritage and strongly encouraged him to embrace his culture and past (Mooney & Ramsland, 2007). Adam mother Lisa Sansbury also strongly identifies with her Indigenous heritage. Lisa “was placed in state care as a young child and was never returned to her parents. She grew up with no ties to her Aboriginal ancestry” (Sydney Swans, 2014). Having strong mentor/parents enabled both individuals to obtain and keep a strong identity of self, providing the character to excel in their chosen