Wiradjuri Mabun (messenger)
I WISH to advise that the name and photo of a Wiradjuri gibirr (man) makes up part of my column, I wish no disrespect to anyone. I acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Wiradjuri people. This column is dedicated to those who have gone before us, to those present and to those who will follow us.
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RONALD William Saddler was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1960s and 1970s. A NSW and Australian international representative three-quarter back, he played in Sydney's NSWRFL Premiership for the Eastern Suburbs club.
Originally from Euabalong, NSW, Wiradjuri ngurambang (country), Ron Saddler played for Eastern Suburbs 1963-64 and 1966-71 and for Australia in 1967-68. A centre who was renowned for his tough defence, Ron became the first Indigenous player to captain NSW in 1967.
My babiin (father), Allan Saddler, also from Euabalong and Ron Saddler’s first cousin and best mate, always tells me the story about when Ron and he played at Euabalong in the rugby league side. Ngadhi babiin (my father) played first grade alongside his own babiin (father) and uncles for Euabalong and in that time Ron had to play reserve grade.
Ngadhi babiin (my father) laughs when he tells me that Ron played for Eastern Suburbs first grade, for NSW and Australia, but back at Euabalong he had to play reserve grade, just goes to show how tough we were at Euabalong in those days.
Ron was born on March 14, 1942, Lake Cargelligo, NSW.
He spent his younger days learning his skills of rugby league from madhu (many) Wiradjuri men. Those days the games were played tough but fair. Some rugby league grounds that these men from the bush played on were just merely paddocks, white lines painted onto red dirt, sheep moved on, dressing sheds hosed out, a quick yarn and then blow the whistle. Dust, dirt, blood, sweat and loose teeth everywhere.
I find it truly amazing that my cousin, a Wiradjuri gibirr (man) Ron Saddler, from Euabalong NSW, made it all the way to the top of his chosen sport.
He played for Australia, he played for Eastern Suburbs, he played and captained NSW, but his best achievements that will always stay in ngadhi ngainy (my mind) is the fact that he played for Euabalong, NSW, that he loved his family and wife and that he was, even up to his passing, a very, very proud Wiradjuri gibirr (man).
