Charles Perkins AO

Dr Charles Nelson Perrurle Perkins AO was one of Australia’s finest Indigenous footballers and civil rights activists; a man who dedicated his life to achieving justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Dr Charles Nelson Perrurle Perkins AO (1936-2000) was from the Arrenrnte and Kalkadoon people, one of the Stolen Generation. He played for Adelaide Croatia, Pan Hellenic in Sydney and was a ‘first pick’ for the South Australian state squad.

He also played for lower division Bishop Auckland in England, trialled for Everton and was invited to trial for Manchester United while in England.

As per the University of Sydney: "In 1965, as a student at the University of Sydney, Dr Perkins organised a student bus tour around New South Wales to draw attention to the state of Indigenous health, education and housing, and to try and stimulate local action. This was called the Freedom ride, and it highlighted the state of race relations in Australia. It is recognised as one of Australia's most significant civil rights events."

In 1987 he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM), and inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame in 2000, the year he passed away. 

The Charles Perkins Soccer Academy was established in November 2019, as part of Macarthur FC, the twelfth team to join the A-League competition.