Tongala tribute honours ‘giant among men’

Aunty Pam Pederson and Robert Nicholls — Sir Doug’s daughter and nephew – were among the crowd that gathered in front of the mural for the unofficial unveiling on Thursday, October 9, along with about 15 Tongala community members.

It was a poignant first visit to Tongala for both, with Aunty Pam expressing heartfelt gratitude to the community for creating such a meaningful and beautiful tribute.

“This is one of the many gratitudes that Tongala have given us,” she said.

“(He) was such a wonderful person.

“And he looks just so beautiful up there.”

Mr Nicholls also thanked the community.

“He was a giant among men, and the thing is that no matter what challenges he faced, he took them on — head on — whether it was the government or the police,” Mr Nicholls said.

“That was the type of person that Doug Nicholls was.

“To me, my family … this is one of the many gratitudes we have for my uncle’s work.”

The mural commemorates Sir Doug’s connection to Tongala, having been made in honour of 100 years since his first game for Tongala Football Club.

He then went on to play for Northcote Football Club in the VFA, being part of the 1929 premiership team, and then became the first Aboriginal player selected for the Victorian state team, playing 54 games with Fitzroy Football Club.

In his honour, the annual AFL Indigenous round is named after him: the Sir Douglas Nicholls round.

Aside from his sporting achievements, Sir Doug was a central figure in the early Aboriginal rights movement, and was a key campaigner for the 1967 referendum, which sought to have Aboriginal people included in the national census.

He was the first Aboriginal Governor, becoming the Governor of South Australia from 1976 to 1977, and was the first Aboriginal person to be knighted, in 1972.

The mural was created by renowned street artist Matt Adnate, whose large-scale portraits are known for celebrating diversity and inspiring social change across Australia and internationally.

The striking mural depicts Sir Doug’s remarkable journey: from a young, determined footballer in Tongala’s colours, to a dynamic player for Northcote, culminating in a central image of his later years as a leader and inspiration to many.

The mural’s background displays colours that each pay homage to the football clubs that shaped him, from the Northcote and the old Tongala colours, to the blue hues of Tongala’s modern look.

The mural was brought to life by the Tongala Development Committee, with the project headed by Tyler Stagg.

Mr Stagg expressed deep appreciation for the Nicholls family’s trust and invaluable input, which ensured the mural authentically captured Sir Doug’s spirit and lasting impact on Tongala.