Bradman, Mandela and Apartheid Sir Donald Bradman’s finest achievement was made off the cricket pitch, according to his biographer Professor Roland Perry OAM. The champion Australian cricketer, who made a stand against the South African apartheid, was also Nelson Mandela’s greatest hero in life. At the upcoming Monash University 2014 Alumni Speaker Series, Melbourne author Professor Perry will dissect Bradman’s character and recount the events in 1971-72 when Sir Donald stopped South Africa’s cricket team from touring Australia. He will also share his insights into how Sir Donald, as chair of the Australian Cricket Board, came to a momentous decision to stop the tour. “Arguably the finest sportsman of the 20th century next to Mohammad Ali, Sir Donald Bradman’s act against apartheid was his most important legacy, it demonstrated his integrity, Professor Perry said. Nelson Mandela was known to hold Sir Donald in the highest esteem both on and off the cricket field. His 1971-72 tour-ban decision further endeared Bradman to him. “Still to this day Bradman’s statement, ‘We (Australia) will not play them until they (South Africa) choose a team on a non-racial basis”, resonates with many,” Professor Perry said. In 1993, 22 years later, South Africa chose a multi-racial cricket team, and resumed international cricket. As the writer-in-residence at the Faculty of Arts, Professor Perry has a long list of accolades concerning his 28 books to date, including Sir Donald’s biography The Don, and three other books connected to him: Bradman’s Best; Bradman’s Best Ashes Teams and Bradman’s Invincibles. Providing a musical interlude, Professor Mary Finsterer from the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music will present the music for the event based on Sir Bradman’s passion for classical music. Her colleague, Associate Professor Merlyn Quaife AM, will perform an operatic rendition of Sir Bradman’s own composition, Every day is a Rainbow Day for Me. Also adding to the line-up of renowned performers is Dr Felix Nobis, from the Centre for Theatre and Performance, who will play several parts. _______ FOLLOW LIPSapp Hits56 Radio _______ FB: r-js/1rlggeQ / TW: r-js/1us3SdS / Listen to LIPSapp Hits56 Radio r-js/1dOIQ18 #thewho #beatles #elvis #jimihendrix #dylan
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 03:08:06 +0000
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