STANDING FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Andrew Leonard

Over the coming weeks we will examine the VAFA’s links to the Olympics and how the original ideals of the Olympics still ring true in amateur football today. 
In the first of this series we review the career of West Brunswick footballer Peter Norman and that moment in Mexico City 1968 when the world gasped at the picture of him standing with two American’s on the Olympic dais in silent protest.  
For a long time Peter Norman was held in higher esteem outside his own country than he was in it.
The 1968 Mexico City Olympics were the scene of one of the most memorable political photos and statements at a modern Olympic games. 
Peter Norman who won the silver medal in the men’s 200m for Australia, splitting American pair Tommie Smith (Gold) and John Carlos (Bronze) stood on the dais whilst his peers stood either side in the famous “black power salute" later labelled by Smith as a "human rights salute”.
Norman who wore an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge, as did Smith and Carlos, in support of the American pair’s protest at the highlighted differences between people of different backgrounds and race that existed in society. 
In what was a shameful response, the Australian media ostracised Norman for his solidarity with his peers,  and despite running a qualifying time he was not picked for the 1972 Munich Olympics. 
All of this was to benefit West Brunswick Football Club. 
Peter Norman was friends with Neville Sillitoe, a famous athletics coach and coach of West Brunswick juniors in the early years. 
Neville, in conjunction with Cliff Bastow (VAFA Registration Secretary), encouraged Norman to run the boundary line to keep fit in the winter to prepare for the summer athletics season. 
After his non-selection for the ’72 Olympics, Norman crossed the white line to pull on the boots for West Brunswick from 1972-77 to play 67 games for the club. 
Norman was an extremely fast footballer, but as you may realise, that was only one part of the game. 
Every now and then some of the opposition players found out he was an Olympian, and used to ‘try it on’ over various distances by bouncing the ball whilst running past him. 
When he had enough of this, Norman would ‘put the foot down’ and chase down the offending player, and apply a solid tackle involving some nose rubbing in the dirt. 
Peter Norman continued to contribute to West Brunswick up until his passing in 2006, supporting them in finals campaigns, often with a rousing speech to the lads. 
He regularly offered to to put his name to to assist the club whether it be offering his services at club functions as MC or for club negotiations with the local council about the pavilion or ground. 
 The film Salute by Matt Norman, Peter’s nephew, was made in 2008 and documents the build up to the 1968 race and medal presentation. 
Peter Norman died in October 2006 and both Tommie Smith and John Carlos travelled to Melbourne to deliver eulogies and were pallbearers at his funeral. 
A special thank you to Stephen Fyffe, former West Brunswick VAFA member, and committee member since 1979 for his insight into Peter Norman’s time at West Brunswick.