Ella ‘too busy’ to see how S.A. blacks live

Press, 14 October 1985, Page 20

Ella ‘too busy’ to see how S.A. blacks live

NZPA-AAP Sydney Glen Ella, the Aboriginal rugby star, has said he will be too busy to see how blacks live in South Africa during his controversial tour of the country. Speaking from Durban in

an interview screened by Sydney’s Channel Nine National News, he admitted that the criticism of his decision to go to South Africa in spite of opposition from his family and the Australian Government was having an effect on him. “I’m starting to get a bit cheesed off to tell you the truth.

“It’s a free country, Australia. We’ve got the chance to make our own decisions about what we do. “We’ve made a decision to come to South Africa to play football. That doesn’t mean we support what’s happening in the country.

“We totally oppose it naturally, like the rest of Australians,” he said.

Ella said other Australians had visited South Africa without attracting as much attention as he had.

“Apparently there was a surfer over here not long ago who won a major championship. I’m sure nothing was said about that.

“We are here to play rugby and rugby is what we are all about” He realised that critics would say that by playing in South Africa he and his

colleagues, Roger Gould and David Campese, were adding their support to the regime. “I think that’s what people in Australia are saying we are doing. “If it turns out like that we are sorry about it. We didn’t come out here supporting any political party.

“I don’t think the three of us will make any difference to what happens in this country, no matter what we do.”

Ella said he expected more criticism when he returned to Australia.

“We are copping a lot back in Australia at the moment. That is a bit unfortunate. But this thing has happened. We’ve made our decision. Whether it’s good or not I don’t really know.” Ella said he was unlikely to have time to see the living conditions for blacks in South Africa for himself. “I would like to see just so that I could go back to Australia and give my opinion.” However, he expected his timetable on the trip would be too tight for him to be able to visit any black South African areas.