Gordon Briscoe
Dr Gordon Briscoe OAM (1938-2023) was an Aboriginal Australian activist and a retired football player. He was a member of the Stolen Generations.
Briscoe was born in Alice Springs. He was descended from the Marduntjara and Pitjantjatjara nations of Central Australia. He was taken away from his mother as a child and was taught at a Christian mission in Adelaide. Briscoe played football (soccer) for Adelaide in the South Australian league. He played alongside his schoolmate Charles Perkins. In 1958, he moved to England with the hope of playing professional football. He had small jobs with Barnet and Preston North End, but he did not make a first team appearance. He went back to Australia at the suggestion of Perkins. The two of them later played recreational football with the Australian National University from 1968 to about 1972.
Briscoe began studying at ANU in 1981. His focus was on the indigenous history of Australia. He was involved in the production of the SBS documentary First Australians. He got his PhD in 1997.
Briscoe also worked as an activist for indigenous Australians. He was involved in the establishment of the Aboriginal Progress Association in the 1950s, the Aboriginal Legal Service in the 1960s and the Aboriginal Medical Service
in 1972.
References
1938 births
2023 deaths
Indigenous Australian activists
Indigenous Australian politics
Australian men' s soccer players
Order of Australia
Pitjantjatjara
People from Alice Springs
Indigenous Australian sportspeople