Page 120 - History of Parkside Football Club (1897-2017) Editied Version Completed_optimized

Parkside Football Club 1897/2017

Parkside Football Club’s history is characterized by toleration and inclusiveness. In his short letter he
wrote to Parkside’s Bruce Dolphin in 1981, John Sharp desperately asked us to remember that

Parkside fought against racism and injustice when it was institutionalized in many segments of the
society.

Parkside Captain and multiple premiership player remembers,

“I can relate this story; Parksides (Black and White) are not racist. In the 1936 Premier Side is one
James Lovett, a full blood Australian. During this game a member of the opposition decided that
Jimmy required a little physical attention and after applying the same made aware of the fact that
Jimmy had seventeen white Australian mates.” ~ John Sharp (21 October, 1981, Point Lonsdale,
Victoria)

Premiers 1936

To contextualize and to understand the history of race relations in Australia, in the 1930s we need to
remind ourselves that in:

“1934; Under the Aborigines Act, Aboriginal people can apply to ‘cease being Aboriginal’ and have
access to the same rights as ‘whites’.

Once a Parksider, Always a Parksider