Richard W. Bray, known as Richie Bray, was an Aboriginal Australian rules footballer who played for the Port Adelaide Football Club.

Early life and education

As a child, Bray was a resident of St Francis House, a home for inland Aboriginal Australian boys from 1946 to 1959 in the Adelaide suburb of Semaphore South, ^[1] a beachside suburb of Adelaide near Port Adelaide, South Australia. ^[2] There he was treated with kindness, sent to the local school, and met other future Aboriginal leaders and activists, including Gordon Briscoe, John Kundereri Moriarty, Charles Perkins, Vince Copley, Malcolm Cooper, and others. ^{[3] [4]}

Football career

Bray played a single game for Port Adelaide F.C. in 1959, then moved to Alice Springs for a few years. ^[5]

In 1962 Bray played in his first premiership for the club, and also played in the 1963 and 1965 premiership sides under coach Fos Williams. ^[6] Over the eight years he spent at the club, he played 77 games. He mostly played half forward flank, and kicked 65 goals, ^[5] but in the 1962 Grand Final (when Port Adelaide won the Grand Final against West Adelaide), he played on the wing. ^[7]

He also coached locally at the Semaphore Football Club. ^[5]

Death

He died in November 2017. ^[5]

References