Mega Thread Matt Rendell situation thread #2

[jenny61_99]

Anyone have anymore info on this Ali bloke? I feel he is a key player in all of this.

National Multicultural Manager at AFL Game Development since June 2011.

Corporate Sales Executive Essendon Football Club April 2008- June 2011.

Brother of Ahmed Fahour - now Head of Australia Post (previously CEO of NAB).

West Preston premiership player.

 

[Dolemite]

Cheers Jenny.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

We're not talking about uni students though are we? We are talking about kids under 16. That means 14/15 year olds.

At first glance, Rendells suggestions seem good and his heart was absolutely in the right place. A great opportunity for indigenous kids to come from isolated communities being brought down to Melbourne to attend private schools (presumably boarding?) and the Footy Academy. Helps them adjust to the vastly different pace of life in the City and the rest of it that goes with it. On deeper analysis of this proposal and an understanding of indigenous issues, you can see how some indigenous people may take exception.

However, in the press that is coming to light today, it appears that the actual proposal wasn't what they had issue with, rather the language he used. I'm wondering if this is the first time Ali Fahoud had ever met Rendell? Mifsud would be used to his laconic no-nonsense, no holds barred approach and perhaps had never taken offense before - knowing full well that Matty didn't have racist intentions - but Fahoud may have highlighted Matts phrasing and choice of language to Jason, and after some consideration (lengthy sole searching I think is the phrase he used) he realised he was actually offended and decided to do something about it.

I personally don't understand how if/when he decided he was offended, why he didn't have a chat with his mate Rendell? That he'd choose to highlight it to King Vlad and then make it public ahead rather than having a discussion with his supposed mate is bewildering at best.

What you need to understand is it isn't big bad White Men stealing Indigenous children away from their crying parents....

It is an offer to go to a prestigeous school which will better their chances of playing AFL! They don't have to take the offer? Plain and simple...

And dont tell me going to Sacred Heart, Saints or Rostrevor wont enhance your chances of playing elite sport no matter what bloody colour you are!

How many kids from Elizabeth High School have been recruited to AFL compared to Sacred Heart?

This whole thing is giving me the shits. It is all to bloody prescious.. Some times we all need to move on... How many of us filthy white people still hold grudges towards the Japanese or the Germans? Less than 1% I'd say!

 

[ruscy002]

The preferred term is "affirmative action".

Also on Misfud telling Rendell that he did not like being called an Aborigine. Presumably he preferred the term indigenous. I believe there is a group in Australia who do not like this term (may be Queensland?) and prefer the term Aborigine. I think the most politically correct term is "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders". Also Aboriginal should always have a capital letter.

This may seem like it is impossible to get right and yes it is a bit of a minefield. But remember when referring to "them" there are many different subgroups and cultures. What is acceptable to some may not be acceptable to others.

It is certainly at best ignorant and at worst offensive to be including Africans in the same group. The only similarity is they are also from a minority.

Matt just seems guilty of insensitivity and ignorance to me. This is not the same as racism. Perhaps, since he thought he was just trying to help, he was oblivious to this and refused to back down when confronted by Trigg. What seems to have triggered the resignation rather than enforced mediation and education was the rapid escalation and leaking of the "one white parent" line to the media last Friday. It certainly should have been handled better by a number of people:
Mifsud - leaked to media which then demanded quick response from Trigger
Demetriou - went on warpath asking for sacking
Trigger - shot Rendell before he could draw
Rendell - ignorance and blind faith in his own agenda

"Affirmative action" isn't the same as positive discrimination - it doesn't enforce that you are doing something positive because a person is different, it just enforces that you're doing something positive.

Agree with the rest, its just like the term "Eskimo", which is offensive to some because it is viewed as representing their lineage when it actually doesn't.

 

[Filthy Fielke]

This whole thing is giving me the shits. It is all to bloody prescious.. Some times we all need to move on... How many of us filthy white people still hold grudges towards the Japanese or the Germans? Less than 1% I'd say!

Didn't realise Japan and Germany were currently occupying any allied countries?

That's the way many Indigenous people see the white Australian state, and rightly so in my opinion.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Pretty good post Jenny. The only thing I would add after watching Footy Confidential on youtube last night is that Rendell strikes me as a nut....first impressions... yes he was emotional and deserved to be, but just the way he ranted makes me think hmmm he's a 6pack short of hangover.

Caro wrote a good article on this saga this morning.

Dont mind the 'nuts' draftpicking. That is all that matters. Maybe we should get Fantasia back for you

 

[NikkiNoo]

this is the crux of the matter. it wasn't that long ago that black children were being taken away from their parents in remote communities to be brought up with white families in cities to give them a "better chance of integrating into white society". any discussion along those lines has to be handled with a lot of sensitivity and nuance.

I like Matty and think he has done a great job for the club and that his intentions are all for the best. We know he is a 'straight-shooter' who speaks his mind. When you use that description to describe someone, it means that they often don't think or speak using sensitivity and nuance.

From what we know so far, and really it isn't too much, and there are still way too many questions which is why I am trying very hard not to make a judgment until I get more facts. I think things could have possibly been handled better, but I do think there was strong pressure from AFL House and there are external factors that we need to keep considering before we really get to the truth. Nothing in life is ever black and white, there are always shades of grey.

 

[ruscy002]

Didn't realise Japan and Germany were currently occupying any allied countries?

That's the way many Indigenous people see the white Australian state, and rightly so in my opinion.

The analogies and innuendo have gotten waaaaaaay out of hand here. Projecting these kind of issues onto something as basic as a footy academy for indigenous Australians is lunacy.

Call it stupid, blow the whistle and play on. Don't cut the throat of the one guy who was gutsy/stupid enough to offer up an idea.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Didn't realise Japan and Germany were currently occupying any allied countries?

That's the way many Indigenous people see the white Australian state, and rightly so in my opinion.

My grandfather was killed my Germans? Not enough?

 

[Jars458]

This whole thing is giving me the shits. It is all to bloody prescious.. Some times we all need to move on... How many of us filthy white people still hold grudges towards the Japanese or the Germans? Less than 1% I'd say!

Completely different, and actually the answer might be larger than you think, certainly from those who were impacted by World War 2.

White people occuppied this country and worked very hard to destroy aborignal culture (either on purpose or accidentally).

The scars from this will never heal, we can only try to ameliorate them as best we (all Australians) can.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Completely different, and actually the answer might be larger than you think, certainly from those who were impacted by World War 2.

White people occuppied this country and worked very hard to destroy aborignal culture (either on purpose or accidentally).

The scars from this will never heal, we can only try to ameliorate them as best we (all Australians) can.

So ethnic cleansing is no grounds for me to hold a grudge? But I dont

I think we should leave this... I know I started it but it may get too deep for a football site

 

[jenny61_99]

No we are not talking about uni students but couldn't it be construed that he was given the opportunity to do things the 'white' way to improve his life?

Was this student from the city where your university was, or was he from a remote indigenous community? Was he living at home with his family or was he staying at one of the University Colleges?

 

[Filthy Fielke]

Redacted

 

[Mattrox]

National Multicultural Manager at AFL Game Development since June 2011.

Corporate Sales Executive Essendon Football Club April 2008- June 2011.

Brother of Ahmed Fahour - now Head of Australia Post (previously CEO of NAB).

Brother of the head if the organisation that funds his job. Nepotism at its finest. Given he is probably qualified for the job, on it's face things seem fine. But when Australia Post funds the Multicultural Embassadors.......

 

[Dolemite]

Was this student from the city where your university was, or was he from a remote indigenous community? Was he living at home with his family or was he staying at one of the University Colleges?

Can't recall where he was from but it wasn't in the city. He lived in housing provided for him and was given access to $15,000 in his bank account. He loved it but left uni during the first year.

 

[jenny61_99]

So ethnic cleansing is no grounds for me to hold a grudge? But I dont

I think we should leave this... I know I started it but it may get too deep for a football site

Don't you think it's a generational thing though? My father, who joined the Navy in 1945 as a 15 year old, helped with the clean up at Hiroshima and faught in the Korean war, still had opinions about the Japanese and Germans until his dying days. I however, don't.

The stolen children "generation" actually affected TWO generations directly, the parents from whom the children were taken, and the children themselves. As we know, a child in an Aboriginal community is raised by the whole community so many more were affected beyond the obvious. And don't forget, the "apology" only happened very recently, so it is still a very recent event in their cultural history.

 

[Lawrst]

Nothing in life is ever black and white, there are always shades of grey.

are those the ones with one white parent.

sorry couldn't resist

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Don't you think it's a generational thing though? My father, who joined the Navy in 1945 as a 15 year old, helped with the clean up at Hiroshima and faught in the Korean war, still had opinions about the Japanese and Germans until his dying days. I however, don't.

The stolen children "generation" actually affected TWO generations directly, the parents from whom the children were taken, and the children themselves. As we know, a child in an Aboriginal community is raised by the whole community so many more were affected beyond the obvious. And don't forget, the "apology" only happened very recently, so it is still a very recent event in their cultural history.

Would you like an estimate of Jews killed last century Jenny? I hold no grudge...

I do agree with you post and hopefully in a generation or two everyone will learn to move on....

 

[jenny61_99]

Would you like an estimate of Jews killed last century Jenny? I hold no grudge...

I do agree with you post and hopefully in a generation or two everyone will learn to move on....

I hold a grudge against the Germans of the time for that atrocity (and of the people that knew it was occurring but did nothing about it), but not of German peoples today. I wish our indigenous brothers and sisters could see the difference between Australia now and then. We have come a long way... perhaps not far enough? But hopefully, in time.

 

[Roby]

Completely different, and actually the answer might be larger than you think, certainly from those who were impacted by World War 2.

White people occuppied this country and worked very hard to destroy aborignal culture (either on purpose or accidentally).

The scars from this will never heal, we can only try to ameliorate them as best we (all Australians) can.

Just goes to show the cultural insensitivity and ignorance of the general public regarding indigenous culture. That's why the AFL is accordance with national and international acts has such diligent reprimands on racial discrimination.

If anything the public defence for Rendell is only justifying the AFL has done correct thing. If anything they may need tobe even more diligent. I will be contact in Dr Helen Szoke, who is Australia's racial discrimination commissioner.

As I have sad already, I applaud Trigg for making this decision and the Adelaide FC will be applauded for it's due diligence.

 

[RocknRoll]

Would you like an estimate of Jews killed last century Jenny? I hold no grudge...

I do agree with you post and hopefully in a generation or two everyone will learn to move on....

This is a major part of the problem I think.
From a logical perspective it is clearly a no-brainer. Even if the parents do not wish to send their children away they can refuse.
However, the strong emotional similarities to the stolen generation may bring immediate resentment amongst some people about such a program. (ie. let's take your children away to the other side of the country to raise them better).
It is a real minefield and one I suspect Matt is not equipped to handle.
Has he ever been given any education in dealing with indigenous sensitivities? If not (which I suspect is the case), then again this lays more blame to Crows management and even more so to the AFL. Such education should be a strict requirement by the AFL for all recruitment officers.

I am studying a course at uni that involves a large amount of interaction with indigenous people. We have a whole subject devoted to how to deal with such issues. If Matt has never been taught it is hardly his fault if he is a bit rough around the edges with it. Maybe one good thing to come from this is if the AFL introduce such a scheme (if they have not already).

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Just goes to show the cultural insensitivity and ignorance of the general public regarding indigenous culture. That's why the AFL is accordance with national and international acts has such diligent reprimands on racial discrimination.

If anything the public defence for Rendell is only justifying the AFL has done correct thing. If anything they may need tobe even more diligent. I will be contact in Dr Helen Szoke, who is Australia's racial discrimination commissioner.

As I have sad already, I applaud Trigg for making this decision and the Adelaide FC will be applauded for it's due diligence.

So Roby, you seem like an intelligent person... How can we keep more Indigenous players in our great game? How can we attract more and make easier pathway's? ( sorry If I offended in anyway, was not my intention, just not as smart and politically correct as you )

 

[The_Wookie]

Just out of left field: Am I the only person who thinks Matt Rendell could be Carl Barrons dad

 

[SydCrow]

It is a real minefield and one I suspect Matt is not equipped to handle.
Has he ever been given any education in dealing with indigenous sensitivities? If not (which I suspect is the case), then again this lays more blame to Crows management and even more so to the AFL. Such education should be a strict requirement by the AFL for all recruitment officers.

I am studying a course at uni that involves a large amount of interaction with indigenous people. We have a whole subject devoted to how to deal with such issues. If Matt has never been taught it is hardly his fault if he is a bit rough around the edges with it. Maybe one good thing to come from this is if the AFL introduce such a scheme (if they have not already).

and irony upon irony is that the AFL's indigenous affairs and multicultural managers were not able to educate him but simply blew the whistle. Either Matty must have completely lost it talking to them (which is possible) or they are ill-equipped to do their jobs.

 

[Mattrox]

Just goes to show the cultural insensitivity and ignorance of the general public regarding indigenous culture. That's why the AFL is accordance with national and international acts has such diligent reprimands on racial discrimination.

If anything the public defence for Rendell is only justifying the AFL has done correct thing. If anything they may need tobe even more diligent. I will be contact in Dr Helen Szoke, who is Australia's racial discrimination commissioner.

As I have sad already, I applaud Trigg for making this decision and the Adelaide FC will be applauded for it's due diligence.

While you are at it contact the Ombusman in charge of corruption. Surely nepotism and sponsorship arrangements which benefit relatives of the sponsor directly need to be wiped out too. You have taken upon yourself to be the moral embassador for the AFL. I assume this includes ridding the AFL of the shady "Australia Post Sponsorship for Ali's job" deal.

You take the moral high ground, and rightly so. But in this case I do think you are misguided. There is still a lot of stench hanging around this issue and I am pretty sure racism is a secondary issue to the monetary loss the AFL could incurr, if infact it's programs are not achieving measurable outcomes of retetion of young players....

Lets investigate the crux of the issue, not the fact that Rendell lacked tact and sensitivity in a conversation he had.