Written by The larrikin is praised in Australian culture as iconic, Peter Lalor of Eureka Stockade notoriety, the infamous bushranger Ned Kelly, television’s Chips Rafferty and Paul Hogan, even our own one-time Prime Minister Bob Hawke. It’s thought that this idolatry of the larrikin arose as a reaction to the corrupt constabulary in colonial days – a response to the stiffness of British officials as the Aussie colonial culture developed a national distain for authority. In sports particularly this is very much the case and that’s when that old adage comes to mind: “It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye”.
As described in her autobiography Below the Surface – Confessions of an Olympic Champion (1965), in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, swimmer Dawn Fraser went on a mischievous mission after partying with the Australian hockey team. On hijacking an Olympic flag from a flagpole outside Emperor Hirohito’s palace, her night of teenaged tomfoolery earned her a 10-year suspension.
Shane ‘Warnie’ Warne is arguably one of Australia’s most famous and talented athletes. Warne’s ‘cult of personality’ is that of archetypal bronzed Aussie sports star; “…cigarette-smoking, beer-loving, baked beans-eating laid-back blond Victorian; the quintessential Aussie larrikin who the public adore.” But this cricketer’s illustrious career was not as headline-grabbing as his ‘extra-curricular activities’ away from the cricket pitch.
Flamboyant ‘Aussie rules’ footballer, Warwick Capper, lived large through the indulgent 80’s and beyond at Surfers Paradise, on the sun-drenched Gold Coast in Queensland, Capper celebrated a “…love affair with the Glitter Strip, including stints as a meter maid, male stripper, stop-and-go man, accidental porn star and unbelievably talented footballer”. Described as a ‘walking publicity machine’ this party-hardy playboy continued to live his life as though he was at a never-ending party, with infectious energy and on a constant natural high. “He has this unique ability to think in his mind that it’s still 1986.”
These Australian icons are looked up to as heroes and will be written in the history books as such, but history aside, a country, an organization, and even a sports team needs to know where to draw the line in the culture that develops. The world’s mavericks are the creators of innovation but sometimes rules need to be maintained for the protection of all involved. That is why sporting culture needs to be mindful of instilling in athletes the importance of respect for the authority that keeps them and others safe, regardless of their rebelliousness and sense of fun, safety must come first. This parameter protects reputations from unwanted publicity for the athlete and the sport as well; not all larrikin notoriety translates as heroism.
Dawn Fraser Part 2: The Infamous Flag Incident of 1964 – The Olympians
10 Australian Sporting Legends (theculturetrip.com)
AFL legend Warwick Capper gets real about his escapades | Seniors News