38-543: Nicholls may refer to: Nicholls (name) , an English surname Nicholls State University (f. 1948), a Louisiana university named for Francis T. Nicholls Nicholls Colonels , the athletic program of said university Division of Nicholls , an electoral division in Victoria, Australia Places [ edit ] Nicholls, Australian Capital Territory , Australia Nicholls, Georgia , United States Topics referred to by
76-527: A social worker in the Fitzroy Aboriginal community. He cared for those trapped in alcohol abuse , gambling, and other social problems, and those who were in trouble with the police. Indigenous people gathered to him and eventually the group was so large that he became the pastor of the first Aboriginal Church of Christ in Australia. In recognition of the ministry he was already expressing, he
114-623: A character in the 2019 film Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Stella Nicholls, a character in the 2019 film Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark See also [ edit ] Gerard Paul Greenhalgh (born 1979), English actor known professionally as Paul Nicholls Nicholls (disambiguation) Nichols (surname) References [ edit ] ^ "Surname Database: Nicholls Last Name Origin" . [REDACTED] Surname list This page lists people with
152-638: A living during the rest of the year, he boxed with Jimmy Sharman 's Boxing Troupe, a travelling sideshow in which Sharman offered his fighters for challenge against all comers. During World War II, Nicholls was an adept boomerang thrower, teaching that skill to some members of the United States military. There is a photograph depicting this in the Australian War Memorial archives. He also organised and captained Aboriginal teams in football matches used for patriotic fundraisers during
190-671: A renewed interest in Christianity and was baptised at Northcote Church of Christ (now Northern Community Church of Christ) in 1935. He officiated at church and hymn services as a lay preacher at the Gore Street Mission Centre in Fitzroy . In 1941 Nicholls received his call-up notice and he joined the 29th Battalion but, in 1942, at the request of the Fitzroy police, he was released from his unit to work as
228-535: A result of injuries sustained in a car accident. Gladys already had three children. Douglas Nicholls and Gladys were married for 39 years and raised their combined six children: two sons, Bevan and Ralph, and four daughters, Beryl, Nora, Lilian and Pamela. Lady Nicholls died in 1981. Nicholls' great-grandson Nathan Lovett-Murray also played Australian rules football in the AFL , playing 145 games for Essendon . Nicholls died on 4 June 1988 at Mooroopna. A state funeral
266-694: A second knighthood, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO). Nicholls' retirement due to ill health was announced on 22 April, with effect from 30 April. He held office for only 150 days, making him the shortest-serving governor in South Australian history and the only governor to serve for less than a year. In December 1942 Nicholls married Gladys Nicholls , the widow of his brother Howard Nicholls (1905–1942); Howard (who had married Gladys in 1927) had died in April 1942 as
304-3138: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Nicholls (name) Nicholls is a surname of English origin. It is one of the patronymics derived from the given name Nicholas . The first record of the spelling is in 1322, in Staffordshire, England . Notable people with name [ edit ] Entertainment [ edit ] Agnes Nicholls (1876–1959), English soprano Billy Nicholls (born 1949), English musician Brooke Nicholls , Canadian singer and songwriter Craig Nicholls (born 1977), Australian musician Danielle Nicholls (born 1978), English television presenter David Nicholls (born 1966), British novelist and screenwriter Edith E. Nicholls (1892–1978), American physician Geoff Nicholls (1948–2017), English musician Graeme Nicholls , English guitarist Harry Nicholls (comedian) (1852–1926), English comedian Morgan Nicholls (born 1971), English musician Peter Nicholls (musician) (born 1959), English singer Phoebe Nicholls (born 1957), English actress Rachel Nicholls , English soprano Sue Nicholls (born 1943), English actress Victoria Nicholls , Australian actress Politics [ edit ] Douglas Nicholls (1906–1988), Australian Governor of South Australia Donald Nicholls, Baron Nicholls of Birkenhead (1933–2019), British Law Lord Francis T. Nicholls (1834–1912), American Confederate Army general, lawyer, judge and politician Jamie Nicholls (politician) (born 1971), Canadian politician Patrick Nicholls (born 1948), English politician Samuel Nicholls (1885–1939), Australian politician Sports [ edit ] Andy Nicholls (born 1962), English soccer hooligan and writer Alex Nicholls (born 1987), English footballer Ashley Nicholls (born 1981), English footballer Benjamin Nicholls (1864–1945), English cricketer Bernie Nicholls (born 1961), Canadian ice hockey player Eddie Nicholls (born 1947), Guyanese cricketer Frederick Nicholls (1868–1950), British rugby player Gwyn Nicholls (1874–1939), British rugby player Jack Nicholls (footballer) (1898–1970), Welsh footballer John Nicholls (footballer) (born 1939), Australian rules footballer Kevin Nicholls (born 1979), English footballer Mel Nicholls (born 1977), English wheelchair athlete Mikey Nicholls (born 1985), Australian wrestler known as Nick Miller Olivia Nicholls (born 1994), British tennis player Ryan Nicholls (born 1973), Welsh footballer Sydney Nicholls (1868–1946), British rugby player Thomas Nicholls (boxer) (1931–2021), British boxer Others [ edit ] David Shaw Nicholls (born 1959), Scottish architect and designer George Nicholls (disambiguation) , multiple people Graham Nicholls (born 1975), English artist Harry Nicholls (VC) (1915–1975), English recipient of
342-461: Is different from Wikidata All set index articles Douglas Nicholls Sir Douglas Ralph Nicholls KCVO OBE (9 December 1906 – 4 June 1988) was a prominent Aboriginal Australian from the Yorta Yorta people . He was a professional athlete, Churches of Christ pastor and church planter , ceremonial officer and a pioneering campaigner for reconciliation . Nicholls
380-412: Is our chance to have things altered. We must fight our very hardest in this cause. After 150 years our people are still bossed and influenced by white people. I know that we could proudly hold our own with others if given the chance. Do not let us forget, also, those of our own people who are still in a primitive state. It is for them that we should try to do something. We should all work in co-operation for
418-509: The surname Nicholls . If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name (s) to the link. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nicholls_(name)&oldid=1235700300 " Categories : Surnames English-language surnames Patronymic surnames Surnames from given names Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description
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#1732787792794456-674: The Australian Hall, Sydney, on the 26th day of January, 1938, this being the 150th Anniversary of the Whiteman's seizure of our country, HEREBY MAKE PROTEST against the callous treatment of our people by the whitemen during the past 150 years, AND WE APPEAL to the Australian nation of today to make new laws for the education and care of Aborigines, we ask for a new policy which will raise our people TO FULL CITIZEN STATUS and EQUALITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. Doug Nicholls rose to support
494-672: The Commonwealth minister for the interior on this issue. It gained national attention when Nicholls, leveraging his profile as a nationally famous athlete, participated in the Day of Mourning protest for Aborigines held in Sydney on 26 January 1938, where Indigenous leaders from across the country made the demand to change the Constitution. The proposed resolution was: WE, representing THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA, assembled in conference at
532-574: The Northcote team by 1929. He made his name as an energetic and speedy wingman, capable of spectacular feats, and came to be regarded as the best wingman in the VFA at the time. At 5'2", he was one of the shortest players in the game. He was a member of Northcote's 1929 premiership team, and finished third in the Recorder Cup voting in 1931, his final season with Northcote. In 1932, Nicholls joined
570-578: The VFL's Fitzroy Football Club and in 1935, he was the first Aboriginal player to be selected to play for the Victorian interstate team , ultimately playing four interstate games. He played a total of six seasons for Fitzroy, before returning to Northcote in 1938. Knee injuries forced him to retire in 1939. He returned to Northcote as non-playing coach in 1947. Nicholls won Fitzroy's Reserves best and fairest award in 1937. During his career, particularly in
608-839: The Victoria Cross Jill Nicholls , British documentary filmmaker John Graham Nicholls (1929–2023), British/Swiss physiologist Kenneth Nicholls , Irish academic and historian Obed Nicholls (1885–1962), English craftsman Peter Nicholls (writer) (1939–2018), Australian literary scholar and critic Rhoda Holmes Nicholls (1854–1930), English-American painter Sally Nicholls (born 1983), British writer Stan Nicholls (born 1949), British writer Will Nicholls (born 1995), British photographer and film-maker William Henry Nicholls (1885–1951), Australian botanist William Nicholls (theologian) (1664−1712), English clergyman and theologian Fictional characters [ edit ] Deputy Roy Nicholls,
646-609: The areas of Fitzroy and Mooroopna . In 1957 Nicholls became a field officer for the Aborigines Advancement League . He edited their magazine, Smoke Signals , and helped draw Aboriginal issues to the attention of Government officials and the general public. He pleaded for dignity for Aboriginal people as human beings. Support for the AAL grew rapidly. Nicholls helped set up hostels for Aboriginal children, holiday homes for Aboriginal people at Queenscliff and
684-497: The country. By 1962, they had achieved 100,000 signatures with the stated goal of 250,000 signatures. The movement supporting a change to the constitution, which removed the block on the federal government making laws regarding Aboriginal people, soon became known as the "yes" campaign. FCAATSI would later become the central lobby group who were able to interface with the Federal Government. During this time Nicholls
722-423: The early years, Nicholls was subjected to onfield taunts or ostracised by his team-mates due to his colour. Nevertheless, he became a popular player among spectators; and, upon joining Fitzroy, when he was initially sitting by himself in the change rooms (due to this ostracism), he was befriended by Haydn Bunton, Sr. who ensured he was made welcome within the team. Like his close relative Lynch Cooper , Nicholls
760-459: The footage without his permission, and subsequently apologised for doing so. Nicholls' predecessor as governor, nuclear physicist Mark Oliphant , confidentially wrote to the state government expressing concerns about the appointment. He said there were "grave dangers" involved, as "there is something inherent in the personality of the Aborigine which makes it difficult for him to adapt fully to
798-456: The grounds of Government House . However, Adelaide's main daily newspaper The Advertiser was more positive, welcoming the news "without reservation". News of the appointment was leaked in May 1976, after which he agreed to appear on A Current Affair . Nicholls took exception to a question directed at his wife, calling the interviewer a racist and requiring him to leave his house. GTV-9 aired
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#1732787792794836-508: The nomination of Premier Don Dunstan . He was the first non-white person to serve as the governor of an Australian state, and is the only Aboriginal person to have held viceregal office. Because of his race, his nomination proved controversial and attracted more attention than most viceregal appointments. A poll by ABC's This Day Tonight found that 70 percent of respondents opposed Nicholls becoming governor. The Canberra Times expressed concern that members of his family might set up camp on
874-555: The petitions for the ‘yes’ vote." Nicholls interacted with the media frequently. Drawing on his abilities as a preacher, he was able to deliver pithy, persuasive messages which were effective in winning over the Australian public. One common line of argument he made was for the "Yes" vote was: “I think it’s a matter of democratic right. And we will form a part of the British commonwealth of nations and there should be no legislation setup to discriminate us. The 1967 Australian referendum
912-562: The police and taken to the Cootamundra Domestic Training Home for Aboriginal Girls where she was trained to become a domestic servant. At 13 Nicholls worked with his uncle as a tar boy and general hand on sheep stations , and he lived with the shearers. He worked hard and had a cheerful disposition. This annoyed one of the shearers so much that he challenged Nicholls to a fight, with the loser to hand over one week's pay (30 shillings – $ 3). After six rounds
950-718: The prime minister, Ben Chifley , asking him to explore how the Constitution could be amended. In 1957, Jessie Street approached Nicholls about bringing in the Victorian Aboriginal Advancement League to form a federal council to campaign for Aboriginal affairs to become a federal matter – this would become the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders . Its early work involved drafting and collecting petitions, from suburbs and town centres from across
988-463: The progress of Aborigines throughout the Commonwealth. The movement took 30 years to coalesce and achieve anything like its stated goal, but it soon made its focus the Constitution of Australia which, in its original form, prevented the Commonwealth from making any law that would benefit the Aboriginal people. In 1949, a letter written by Nicholls prompted a Labor MP, Kim Beazley Sr. , to write to
1026-641: The resolution on behalf of the Victorian Aborigines League that day, saying: On behalf of Victorian Aborigines I want to say that we support this resolution in every way. The public does not realise what our people have suffered for 150 years. Aboriginal girls have been sent to Aboriginal Reserves and have not been given any opportunity to improve themselves. Their treatment has been disgusting. The white people have done nothing for us whatever. Put on Reserves, with no proper education, how can Aborigines take their place as equals with whites? Now
1064-413: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Nicholls . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nicholls&oldid=1087114135 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
1102-599: The shearer who challenged him conceded defeat. Nicholls played Australian rules football . After playing in the Goulburn Valley for Tongala , Nicholls tried out for VFL clubs North Melbourne and Carlton before the 1927 season. He played some seconds matches for Carlton but did not play a senior game. Nicholls subsequently joined the Northcote Football Club in the VFA , and became a regular in
1140-714: The war, many of which were played against Northcote. William Cooper , an uncle to Nicholls, mentored him in leadership, eventually placing him as the secretary of the Australian Aborigines' League . It was a founding principle of the League that Aboriginal Affairs was made a Federal matter, which would require a change in the Constitution of Australia , which could only be effected by a referendum . As early as February 1935 Cooper, Nicholls and others were lobbying Members of Parliament, such as Thomas Paterson ,
1178-617: The ways of the white man". On 25 January 1977, Nicholls suffered a stroke and was admitted to the cardiac ward at Royal Adelaide Hospital . He had a history of high blood pressure and had suffered a mild heart attack some years earlier. He was not discharged until three weeks later, with Lieutenant-Governor Walter Crocker serving as Administrator of the Government in his place. Nicholls attended only one further official engagement after his stroke, hosting Queen Elizabeth II at Government House on 20 March. She subsequently awarded him
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1216-530: Was a founding member and Victorian Secretary of the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI). In response to protests in the 1950s and 60s for an independent, Aboriginal-run farming cooperative at Lake Tyers Mission he campaigned on their behalf, but when the board moved to close Lake Tyers, Nichols resigned his position in protest. Nicholls was an active Freemason . Nicholls became Governor of South Australia on 1 December 1976, after being announced on 25 May on
1254-551: Was also a very capable sprinter. He competed in gift races around Victoria during the athletics seasons, and in 1928 he won both the Nyah and Warracknabeal Gifts. Following this, the race organisers paid him an appearance fee, board and expenses to enter races. He was the inaugural chairman of the National Aboriginal Sports Foundation. Playing football provided employment during the winter. To earn
1292-520: Was an emphatic success for Nicholls and the FCAATSI leadership, with an average of 90% of Australians supporting the change they had asked for. Following the successful outcome of the referendum, Pastor Doug argued that much more than a legal change had been made, rather, it was: … evidence that Australians recognise Aborigines are part of the nation. Nicholls was a minister and social worker with Aboriginal people . Following his mother's death he took
1330-592: Was born on 9 December 1906 on the Cummeragunja Reserve in New South Wales. He was the youngest of five children born to Herbert Nicholls and Florence Atkinson. His paternal grandfather was Aaron Atkinson, who was the brother of William Cooper . Schooling at Nicholls's mission was provided to Grade 3 standard and strict religious principles were emphasised. When he was eight, he saw his 16-year-old sister Hilda forcibly taken from his family by
1368-446: Was known to have met and negotiated with prime ministers Robert Menzies and Harold Holt . However, creating the political momentum involved substantial grass roots action. Nicholls' daughter, Pam, recalls her father winning support from white Australians at football games: “With his friend Alick Jackomos, they used to have a card table and go and sit outside the football giving out papers, giving speeches, beckoning people to come sign
1406-655: Was ordained as a minister. In a letter to the editor, in 1953, it was noted that Opposition Leader, H. V. Evatt , had asked the Prime Minister Robert Menzies , on 26 February, in Federal Parliament, 'for an invitation to be extended to Capt. Reg Saunders or some other outstanding representative of the aborigines' to be included in the official Australian contingent to the coronation of Elizabeth II . The author suggested Nicholls, as an ordained minister, and for his community work in
1444-432: Was the first Aboriginal Australian to be knighted when he was appointed Knight Bachelor in 1972 (he was subsequently appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1977). He was also the first—and as of 2024 the only —Indigenous Australian to be appointed to vice-regal office, serving as Governor of South Australia from 1 December 1976 until his resignation on 30 April 1977 due to poor health. Nicholls
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