Please note: The following content contains images and names of deceased Aboriginal people.
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03-03, 2025Francis Roberts was ecstatic when selected to compete in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, alongside boxer Adrian Blair and basketball player Michael Ah Matt. However, this man from the Widjabul Wia-bal and Githabul tribes was not considered an Australian citizen at the time. This exclusion highlighted the systemic discrimination faced by Indigenous Australians.
"We weren't counted as people in the national census," said his cousin, Rhoda Roberts. "He had to travel as a British citizen, which frustrated him immensely." She added, "He felt like he belonged to this country, and he really wanted to represent us, and he did. But it was another form of control, meaning he didn't have the same freedoms as other athletes." This restriction further emphasized the unequal treatment he experienced.
Roberts is now telling the story of the boxer in a stage play, "My Cousin Frank," at the Adelaide Festival. In between rehearsals, Roberts said, "It's like a Sylvester Stallone 'Rocky' story – he came from the depths of poverty and travelled the world as an elite athlete." The play aims to celebrate his achievements while acknowledging the challenges he overcame.
The Roberts family grew up in Cubawee, an autonomous Aboriginal settlement just outside Lismore in northern New South Wales, established in the 1930s. "It was humble, all corrugated iron, shacks, makeshift floors made of rammed earth, but it was an incredible community," Roberts recalled. She added, "It greatly enhanced confidence and pride and was known among Aboriginal people across the country as a place of self-determination and sovereignty." This community provided a strong foundation for its members despite its humble beginnings.
Francis's (or Frankie's) boxing talent was initially spotted by his grandmother, and he was eventually sent to Newtown in Sydney for training. "He was brilliant at it," Roberts said. She also said, "I think it's a real balance – you have to have the weight and the physical requirements, but you also have to dance like an antelope, be light on your feet." His natural talent and dedication propelled him forward in the sport.
The welterweight boxer quickly rose through the ranks and was selected to represent Australia at the Tokyo Olympics, but his identity differed from that of other athletes. "He knew that was the way it was, but he travelled on a British passport, and you can imagine he was (internally) very emotional because he's representing Australia, wearing the green and gold – but he wasn't eligible for an Australian passport," Roberts said. This discrepancy highlighted the complex relationship between identity and citizenship.
The 1967 constitutional referendum finally recognized Aboriginal Australians as citizens, but it was too late for the Tokyo Olympics. Frankie Roberts still went to Japan, where he had his moment in the boxing ring and even dined with Emperor Hirohito. "He did so well. He didn't win a medal, but we didn't care," Rhoda Roberts said. She added, "Gee whiz – Francis Frank Roy Roberts from Cubawee outside Lismore, where there was a curfew, and you couldn't even go into town, but he actually represented us at the Olympics. That was enough." His participation was a victory in itself, representing progress despite the existing limitations.
She had the idea to create a play to tell his story and give back to Lismore, as the area is still slowly recovering from devastating floods. The ultimate plan is to showcase the work in a boxing tent in the area, and she hopes it will have a positive impact on Lismore, like Sir Donald Bradman had on his hometown of Bowral. She said, "I wanted to look for an opportunity of hope and a great story, like the 'Rocky' story, to develop it into cultural tourism for the area to draw people back." The play aims to contribute to the community's healing and revitalization.
Roberts said that while things have improved significantly since Francis was denied citizenship, she believes the failure of the 2023 "Voice to Parliament" national referendum shows there is still a long way to go. "There's a lot of growing up to do, there's still a lot of fear, which always amazes me," she said. "My Cousin Frank" premieres at the Adelaide Festival on Monday. The play serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for Indigenous rights and recognition.
