A NOTABLE national indigenous figure was able to reminisce on his youth while recently reuniting with an old friend in the region.
Riverland artist Tony Smith was last month visited by long-time friend, former professional soccer player, and national art figure, John Moriarty.
Mr Smith said his friendship with Mr Moriarty had spanned numerous decades and countries.
“There were four of us and we were pretty adventurous back in those days,” Mr Smith said.
“We got together and we went over to Europe and did some hitchhiking.
“We got to Germany at one stage and bought a little Volkswagen, and we did 32,000 miles right up into Finland and the arctic circle, then all the way down into Morocco, the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara.
“Eventually we split up because I was heading to America… and John came back to Australia.”
Mr Moriarty was commissioned by Qantas in 1994 to paint indigenous artwork on a Boeing 747-400, and in 1995 for a similar project on a Boeing 747-300
Mr Moriarty said his John Moriarty Football initiative – run with his wife through the Moriarty Foundation – was aimed at identifying and developing young indigenous soccer talent in regional areas.
“We have about 70 staff running football development programs in the Dubbo region of New South Wales, the Kuranda region in Queensland, and in Tenant Creek in Northern Territory,” Mr Moriarty said.
“We have a connection with UNICEF now and they want us to develop the program right throughout the country
“We develop kids aged from six to 16, and we’ve got five kids now under scholarships.
“Nobody gets into the bush like we do, to develop a program like we have.”
Mr Moriarty – who was the first indigenous player selected for the Australian national soccer team, in 1960 – said soccer could provide a range of opportunities for rural youth.
“It’s not only football but it’s health, education, wellbeing and all the things that inspire a young person to open their own boundaries,” he said.
“Those are the sort of things my wife and I think will broaden the kids’ horizons.”
Mr Smith hoped his friend would be able to visit the Riverland again.
“We lost contact completely for many years,” he said.
“It’s only been in the last few years, through another one of our mates, we found out where (John) was and we contact him by phone.
“We’ve both gone different ways all together… he’s got quite a lot of achievements.”
Further information regarding John Moriarty Football can be found by visiting the website (www.moriartyfoundation.org.au/programs/john-moriarty-football/).