Anthony Abrahams interviewed by David Philips for the Sport oral history project [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 4319670
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Abrahams, Anthony, interviewee
- Online Access:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2008
- 3 sound files (ca. 122 min.)
- Series:
- Sport oral history project.
- Technical Details:
- Mode of access: Online.
- Summary:
-
Anthony Abrahams speaks about his background, family, early life and education; studying law at Sydney University; his early involvement in Rugby; international rugby tours to New Zealand (1967) and 1969 Wallaby tour of South Africa (S.A.); the state of apartheid (1969); African National Congress (ANC); the relationship of sport to politics; S.A. repressive laws; his decision not to return to Australia with team; hitch-hiking to London; the growing international campaign for sports boycotts of S.A.; the attitude of Wallaby players to S.A. after 1963 & 1969 tours; his move to Paris; playing rugby with 'Racing Club de France'; taking leave of absence to come to Australia in 1971 to speak against Springbok tour; moving to British firm Clifford Turner (from 1987, Clifford Chance); living and working in Paris for 24 years (until 1994); moving to to Saudi Arabia (1994) for 2 years, then Singapore; MRAPS (Mouvement Contre-Racisme et Pour Sport); Dulcie September, assassination; Chris de Broglio and Dennis Brutus, founders of SANROC (S.A. Non-Racial Olympic Committee); 1969-71, helping keep issue alive in Australia by writing letters to press; returning to Australia April 1971, 2 months before tour (June-July 1971).
Abrahams discusses the response from Australian media & Australians to anti-tour message; the 7 Wallabies refusing to play against Springboks, tour June-July 1971; Trade unions response; Qld declared State of Emergency; longer-term effects of 1971 tour on sporting contacts with S.A.; no formal contact between Australia and S.A. in cricket or rugby till after 1990; Springbok rugby tour of NZ 1981 split NZ society by protests; Malcolm Fraser; John Howard; walking the Kokoda Track; his return to Australia; re-entering legal world in Australia; running his own bi-lingual legal firm; contemplating writing novel re his experience of French society as an Australian; now semi-retired; evaluation of his activities and stands taken in 1969 and 1971; a letter of praise from post-apartheid S.A. Govt.; how politics still intrudes into sport; S.A.'s victory in 1995 Rugby World Cup in presence of Nelson Mandela; the significance of political gestures by sportspeople e.g. Black Power salute at Mexico Olympics 1968; ABC documentary on the 7 Wallabies' protest; 1969 tours being an important educational and life-changing experience for him.
- Notes:
- Recorded on January 24, 2008.
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (6 p.) and corrected transcript (typescript, 70 leaves)
- Subject:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Philips, David, 1946-2008, interviewer
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Sport oral history project.
This collection contains 93 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2078 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2008
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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