Celestial Footy
The Story of Chinese Heritage Aussie Rules
By Patrick Skene
Harry Hartog's review
"I can highly recommend Celestial Footy for any sports buff, historian, or community minded raconteur who is eager to hear a positive story about Australian immigration. Through the lens of ‘footy’, Patrick Skene has brought to life some incredible community stories of multiculturalism and Australian Chinese football players. Having overcome different level of prejudice, challenge, and obstacle by immersing themselves in our national game, these players and their communities have participated and thrived. Throughout our history, sports like Aussie Rules have been a foundation for many new immigrants to build their lives. Celestial Footy shares numerous stories of success, since1882 throughout the last 150 years until today, where Chinese players have prospered both on and off the sports field because of playing community team sport and engaging in the Australian way of life." - Robert Berkelouw, Independent Owner
Description
Since the Miners versus Market Gardeners 'Celestial football match' on the Victorian goldfields in 1892, Chinese-Australians have embraced Australian Rules football and been among its most enthusiastic followers.
In Celestial Footy, Patrick Skene chronicles the participation and passion of Chinese-heritage immigrants and their descendants in Australia's beloved national game. Celebrating the pioneers, such as Wally Koochew and Les Kew Ming, to the modern-day champions Les Fong, Ling Jong and Darcy Vescio, the book draws on independent interviews and archival researched conducted by the author to shine a spotlight on the broad range of characters who have excelled in Australian Rules football and passed on their love of the game through the generations.
More than a sports book, Celestial Footy is a unique, timely and important addition to Australia's sporting history, as well as that of the broader Chinese-Australian narrative of assimilation, struggle, identity and community. It reveals a hidden chapter in Australia's archives with significant contemporary relevance, and tells the powerful story of the Chinese-Australian men and women who overcame obstacles and adversity to play the game they loved.
- ISBN:
- 9780646879017
- Format:
- Paperback / softback
- Pages:
- 288
- Published:
- Publisher:
- Hardie Grant Media
- Imprint:
- Hardie Grant Media
- Weight:
- 422 g