THE KNIGHT in shining armour.
A story all too familiar. The hero that saves the day after fighting tirelessly to triumph in the battle against whatever the evil might be.
If there was ever better representation of the knight in shining armour, it is Shelley Ware.
For nearly her whole life, the proud Yankunytjatjara and Wirangu woman has been fighting to highlight the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their culture to the story of Australia – along the way calling out the racism that Ware and other Indigenous people have suffered along the way.
While the chinks in armour usually weaken it, it’s the opposite for Ware.
Speaking on the Behind the Game Changers podcast, she detailed how years of dealing with racist taunts has only strengthened and fuelled her fight so the next generation will not have to deal with the pain that Ware did.
“Just little things happen along your way and they chip at you, at your armour,” Ware said.
“I’ve got a stronger armour as I’ve gotten older. People think they’re hurting me now, but they’re not hurting me. It’s pretty thick now.
“Really, the fight that I have about racism is for the next generation because I don’t want them to have to wear this armour, I don’t want them to block love from people – because it can often do that too.”
For years Ware had gone about her fight behind the scenes, using her own experiences and natural ability as an educator to help grow awareness for her cause and create more active allies in the community.
However, Ware – the daughter of renown Indigenous activist Bob Ware, was spurred into more decisive action after both seeing and being on the receiving end of targeted racist social media abuse.
The tipping point was an emotional conversation with her son, Taj, who - despite shielding him with her own armour - had begun to witness how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are treated on their own land.
“This has been going on for so long that if Aboriginal people do stand up and say something, there’s a lot of backlash within the community to essentially go back to within your box and stay there because ‘you don’t belong in this space’,” she said.
“My father made me promise not to do anything publicly because he wanted to make sure that my child was strong in heart and knew who they were as a person.
“Taj actually said to me one day, and that’s when I realised it was time to be very public, ‘I would never let people treat me the way they treat you’.
“It was powerful.”
In football, a quick transitions from defence to propel into attack can be the best offense. The same is true for how Ware has been able to drive change in her community.
As a member of Carlton’s RAP Committee, Ware has been instrumental in educating the playing group across both the women’s and men’s program to help give them the tools they need to become allies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country.
Her call for community education should come as no surprise to those who know her.
The teacher by trade encourages all those wanting to do more to ask questions, read and do their own research so they can feel confident to continue having the tough conversations whenever the chance may arise.
“It’s really important, I think to self-educate ourselves,” she said.
“As a teacher, I know that Aboriginal history and culture hasn’t been taught well in a lot of schools. Some are getting it and doing a great job, but most of it isn’t happening.
“There are a lot of people who don’t understand the history of Australia with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“So educate yourself. The internet is so full of amazing things. Read books, watch movies, go to local functions and community events when we can and embrace Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture as your own, because we’re all part of Australia. It’s ours.
“It’s ours, it’s Australia, so we should all embrace it.”
Now, as her battle continues on, Ware is encouraged by the action that she is seeing taken by those within the football community – seeing the inaugural AFLW Indigenous round as another important step forward.
For Ware, the game should not be the source of further divide: rather it should be a celebration and recognition of our history as Australians.
“It means everything,” she said.
“We’re celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island history and culture and the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players to the game.
“It’s an opportunity for everyone to look at the beauty within our culture. We don’t do that enough in Australia, so it’s really a special time for us as people and it’s great to just unite as one and celebrate.”
The 2021 AFLW Indigenous guernsey auction has begun | Place your bid here to secure a piece of history
There is little doubt that Ware will continue in her fight for the next generation of Indigenous Australians to help ensure that they don’t have to continue suffering the torment that many of Ware’s generation continue to experience daily.
For those young Indigenous Australians, particular young females, Ware shared a piece of advice hoping they too will find the confidence to challenge societal misconceptions and chase their dreams – whatever they may be.
“Just do it,” she said.
“Our biggest problem with Aboriginal people is that we use the word ‘shame’ in the way that we speak and it holds us back and it holds our community.
“Just drop that shame and make sure that you listen to your inner heart, and what’s happening in your head, take note of that and strive to be the best you can.”
