John Kundereri Moriarty

John Kundereri Moriarty AM[2] (born c. 1938[1]) is an Indigenous Australian artist, government advisor and former football (soccer) player. He is most famous, as founder of the Balarinji Design Studio, for painting two Qantas jets with Aboriginal motifs.[3]

John Kundereri Moriarty
Bornc. 1938 (age 81–82)[1]
Borroloola, Northern Territory
NationalityAustralian
EducationBachelor of Arts
Alma materFlinders University
OccupationDesigner, Businessman
EmployerJumbana Group
Known forArt, Sport
Spouse(s)Ros Moriarty
John Moriarty
Personal information
Full name John Kundereri Moriarty
Date of birth c. 1938 (age 81–82)[1]
Place of birth Borroloola, Northern Territory, Australia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Port Thistle
Adelaide Juventus
Adelaide Croatia
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 December 2008

Today a full member of the Yanyuwa people of his birthplace, and belonging ceremonially to the rainbow snake and kangaroo Dreamings, Moriarty has held senior and executive positions in the Department of Aboriginal Affairs at both federal and state government levels. He is a long-time advocate for Indigenous rights and Indigenous arts.

Early life

Moriarty was born in Borroloola, Northern Territory to a tribal Aboriginal woman, who spoke seven Aboriginal languages, and an Irishman from County Kerry. As such he was classified as half-caste. The policy at that time was generally to remove half-caste children from "full-blood" mothers. He was removed from his mother at four years of age, making him part of the stolen generation. Up until that age, he spoke only the Yanyuwa language. His Aboriginal name is Jumbana and his ceremonial name is Kundareri. He was placed in a home for Aboriginal children at Mulgoa in the west of Sydney, and a few years later was moved to Adelaide.[3][4][5]

Education

Moriarty received his schooling at St Francis House in Semaphore, South Australia.[5][6] In 1970 Moriarty graduated from Flinders University with a Bachelor of Arts. He was later a recipient of a Churchill Fellowship.[7]

Art

In 1983 Moriarty founded the Jumbana Group in Adelaide with the Balarinji brand being the most prominent component. Moriarty is Chairman and head designer of the group.

1994 Moriarty was commissioned by Qantas to design artwork for a Boeing 747-400 aeroplane. The finished result was the "Wunala Dreaming", which was first displayed on (VH-OJB[8]), then on (VH-OEJ[9]). A second aeroplane, a Boeing 747-300, was painted in 1995 and is known as "Nalanji Dreaming" (VH-EBU[10]).[11] He was also responsible for repainting two NR class locomotive to indigenous livery.[12]

Soccer

Moriarty played his football for South Australian First Division teams Port Thistle, Adelaide Juventus before playing for Adelaide Croatia alongside St Francis House schoolmates Charles Perkins and Gordon Briscoe.[3][5][6][13]

In 1960, Moriarty was the first recognised Indigenous Australian to be selected for a national soccer team. He was selected to play in an Australian national team tour to Hong Kong but the tour was cancelled after Australia's expulsion from FIFA. Moriarty's career ended after a collision with a goalkeeper. Moriarty represented the state of South Australia 17 times.[3]

After retiring, Moriarty served on the board of Adelaide Juventus (later Adelaide City) [3]

Moriarty established a scholarship for young indigenous soccer players, and is focused on grassroots participation. The organisation is named the Jim Moriarty Foundation.[14] The foundation has received international praise from FIFA,[15] and has received money from outside sources such as Tim Cahill.[16] One of the early recipients of a scholarship was Shay Evans.[17]

Working life

Prior to founding Balarinji, John was a public servant in various departments of Aboriginal affairs, both state and federal.

Between 1994 and 2004 Moriarty served on the board of Indigenous Business Australia.[18]

He is a recipient of an Advance Australia Award for service to industry and commerce. He is also a member of the Order of Australia.

Writing

In 2000, he wrote an autobiography Saltwater Fella published by Viking Press.[19] He and his cousin Charles Perkins were interviewed by Australian journalist John Pilger in his 2002 book The New Rulers of the World.

Awards and honours

References
  1. Moriarty's date of birth was recorded officially as 1 April 1938 but this is not believed to be accurate
  2. "Dr John Moriarty". honours.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  3. Baum, Greg (24 May 2006). "Socceroos Dreaming". The Age. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
  4. Moriarty, John (1 October 2001). "The National Interest" (Interview). Interviewed by Terry Lane. Radio National. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
  5. Moriarty, John (25 November 1996). "John Moriarty (1938)". National Museum of Australia (Interview). Interviewed by Sue Taffe. Archived from the original on 30 September 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  6. Briscoe, Gordon (2010). "Educated men or Christian misfits? 1950 to 1956". Racial Folly: A twentieth-century Aboriginal family. Australian National University. ISBN 978-1-921666-20-9.
  7. "John Moriarty AM". Celebrity Speakers Australia. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
  8. "CASA Aircraft Register (VH-OJB)". Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
  9. "CASA Aircraft Register (VH-OEJ)". Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
  10. "CASA Aircraft Register (VH-EBU)". Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
  11. "95/103/1 Aircraft model, stand and print, Boeing 747-400, 'Wunala Dreaming', Qantas Airways, plastic / metal / wood / paper, designed by John and Ros Moriarty of Balarinji Studio in Australia and made by Scalecraft Models in New Zealand, 1993–1994". Powerhouse Museum Collection. Powerhouse Museum. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
  12. https://www.flickr.com/photos/49329689@N03/6348769143
  13. Jupp, James (2001). The Australian People: An Encyclopedia of the Nation, Its People and Their Origins. Cambridge University Press. p. 248. ISBN 0-521-80789-1.
  14. Feltham, Sarah. "JMF SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM". John Moriarty Football. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  15. "Australian football program recognised at FIFA award ceremony". The World Game. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  16. Ross, Julius (20 November 2018). "Tim Cahill donates $50,000 to John Moriarty Football on behalf of Socceroos and Matildas". Professional Footballers Australia. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  17. Foundation, Supplied: John Moriarty (16 November 2018). "John Moriarty Foundation Shay Evans". ABC News. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  18. "Annual Report 2003 – 2004" (PDF). Indigenous Business Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  19. Moriarty, John (2000). Saltwater Fella. Ringwood, Victoria: Viking Press. ISBN 0-670-87865-0.
  20. "Honorary Doctorates". University of South Australia. Archived from the original on 4 September 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  21. "Convocation Medal: past recipients". Flinders University. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
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