Former Wallaby Lloyd McDermott passes away at 79

Australian rugby is mourning the passing of trailblazer Lloyd McDermott, who has died at his Sydney home aged 79.

Australia’s first indigenous barrister, McDermott was also one of the first indigenous Wallabies and made a notable stand against apartheid in South Africa by making himself unavailable for the 1963 tour there.

“The Rugby community is deeply saddened by the news of Lloyd’s passing, however, his impact on the sport will never be lost and his name will never fade. He was an extraordinary man,” RA chief executive officer Raelene Castle said.

“Through his exploits on the field and in particular for what he did for First Nations people both during his playing career and beyond, he has enriched the lives of so many and provided inspiration and opportunity for thousands of Indigenous Australians.”

A proud Aboriginal ‘Mununjali and Waka Waka’ man, McDermott was born at Eidsvold, central north Queensland.

The son of a farm labourer, his academic and sporting prowess from a young age won him a scholarship to Brisbane’s prestigious Anglican Church Grammar School.

A 100-yard and 220-yards sprint champion on the athletics track at ‘Churchie’, McDermott’s flashing speed gave him an affinity with rugby and he played three seasons in the school’s first XV.

The winger possessed electrifying pace and a blinding swerve and graduated from the GPS representative team to play two Tests for Australia, his debut against the All Blacks in 1962.

McDermott sensationally ended his association with rugby before the 1963 tour to South Africa.

In declaring himself unavailable for the tour, he made his pride in his Aboriginality clear by opting not to play as an ‘honorary white’, which was the only basis on which he could compete against the all-white Springboks team under the country’s apartheid regime.

After graduating in law, he worked in the Commonwealth Deputy Crown Solicitor’s Office before being admitted as a barrister in 1972.

McDermott went on to establish the Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team with a mission to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in rugby.

“Lloyd will be sorely missed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” former Wallabies centre and president of the Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team, Gary Ella said.

“His legacy is not just his work in promoting sport to young people it is also about equality in opportunities for young people.

“Lloyd’s work has positively influenced thousands of young Indigenous people around Australia.”