Goodes recognised as Indigenous icon

Adam Goodes has done some remarkable things on the football field. He boasts two Brownlow Medals, two premierships and is a four-time All-Australian.

This, combined with his work off the field, was honoured on Tuesday night when he received the coveted Ella Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sport for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Apart from his remarkable 14-year AFL career, Goodes was also recognised for his work as one of the faces behind the Human Rights Commission’s campaign to stamp out racial discrimination – “Racism: It Stops With Me.”

The prestigious prize is named after the acclaimed Ella family, with brothers Mark and Glen playing for the Wallabies, and sister Marcia representing Australia in netball.

Upon presenting Goodes with his award, Marcia Ella-Duncan described him as a role model that all Indigenous people could look up to.

“The Ella Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sport recognises excellence and achievement on and off the field,” Marcia Ella-Duncan said.

“(It’s) an award that marks our leaders in sport, singles them out and says ‘you have set a national example for others to follow’.

“An Aboriginal man that has stood up to be counted, standing tall against racism, and setting an example in the tradition of the great Nicky Winmar.

“He is a leader for our time, on and off the football field.”

As part of his commitment to help young Indigenous Australians live their dreams, Goodes established the Goodes – O’Loughlin Foundation with former Swans teammate and advocate for Aboriginal rights, Michael O’Loughlin, in 2009.

Both men have also played a crucial role in the decision to select an all-Indigenous team to represent Australia in this year’s International Rules Series against Ireland.