Knocking it out of the park | State Library of NSW

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These photos from two Koori Knockouts, one held in Dubbo on 1 October 2015 and the other in Tuggerah on 1–2 October 2019, are by leading First Nations photographer Barbara McGrady. Her shots of the action on the ground, on the sidelines and in the stands capture the drama, exhilaration and hard yakka of the Knockout.

McGrady is a Gomeroi–Gamilaraay Murri woman born in Mungindi, in north-west NSW, who lives in Sydney. Her body of work forms an extraordinary chronicle of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life, particularly in the sporting arena. She will be in the Shoalhaven for the 2022 Koori Knockout, building on the huge archive of memories she has created for players, fans and families.

I see everything that I photograph through a black lens.
— Barbara McGrady

Footballers walking onto the flied. Man in foreground has a shirt that reads 'Straight Outta Walgett'. — Straight outta Walgett. The Walgett Aboriginal Connection and Griffith Three Ways United teams, Koori Knockout, Dubbo {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/straight-outta-walgett-walgett-aboriginal-connection-and-griffith-three-ways-united","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975289?itok=Hd-UM7sY","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975289?itok=SA_37GTj","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975289?itok=Hd-UM7sY","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975289?itok=SA_37GTj","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975289?itok=4vJinRS7","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975289?itok=3PdxktxM","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975289?itok=dkHp_rUE"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL19975289&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"682"}
1 October 2015
Barbara McGrady
Call # n88GOXvn
Digital ID:
n/a
View collection item detail

Team of football players kneeling in a circle with their backs to the camera. — The Bourke Warriors under 17s team receive their pre-game team talk, Dubbo {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/bourke-warriors-under-17s-team-receive-their-pre-game-team-talk-dubbo","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975066?itok=z5iKLTu9","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975066?itok=huVflkGr","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975066?itok=z5iKLTu9","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975066?itok=huVflkGr","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975066?itok=R4jjcGls","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975066?itok=ZZNnQV4P","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975066?itok=nNPvzK8X"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL19975066&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"682"}
1 October 2015
Barbara McGrady
Call # n88GOXvn
Digital ID:
n/a
View collection item detail

Woman wearing team jersey for La Perouse holds one finger up. — Lesha Duckett of the La Perouse Panthers, Dubbo {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/lesha-duckett-la-perouse-panthers-dubbo","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975223?itok=1SDBocjn","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975223?itok=3VxCBmli","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975223?itok=1SDBocjn","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975223?itok=3VxCBmli","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975223?itok=flO3xIeW","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975223?itok=f6j64VRK","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975223?itok=nAsGzbIX"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL19975223&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"682"}
1 October 2015
Barbara McGrady
Call # n88GOXvn
Digital ID:
n/a
View collection item detail

Woman sitting in folding chair waving at camera — The Briggs and Moran family, at the Koori Knockout, Dubbo {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/briggs-and-moran-family-koori-knockout-dubbo","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975294?itok=KcFLt2tf","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975294?itok=BZ9j2wGm","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975294?itok=KcFLt2tf","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975294?itok=BZ9j2wGm","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975294?itok=90uphxrn","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975294?itok=pNQf28L-","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975294?itok=a5bazl_E"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL19975294&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"682"}
1 October 2015
Barbara McGrady
Call # n88GOXvn
Digital ID:
n/a
View collection item detail

Players take a knee in pre-match pep-talk — The eventual winners of the 2015 Knockout, Redfern All Blacks, at their pre-match pep-talk, Dubbo {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/eventual-winners-2015-knockout-redfern-all-blacks-their-pre-match-pep-talk-dubbo","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975447?itok=1IFwTQ5z","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975447?itok=nJYUyN2x","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975447?itok=1IFwTQ5z","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975447?itok=nJYUyN2x","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975447?itok=t5ryI5LR","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975447?itok=RVjnydb4","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975447?itok=ZFzYkbdp"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL19975447&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":null,"height":null}
1 October 2015
Barbara McGrady
Call # n88GOXvn
Digital ID:
n/a
View collection item detail

The crowd gathered on portable chairs and under umbrellas on the grass at the Koori Knockout, Dubbo — The crowd gathered on portable chairs and under umbrellas on the grass at the Koori Knockout, Dubbo {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/crowd-gathered-portable-chairs-and-under-umbrellas-grass-koori-knockout-dubbo","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL19974926?itok=tybb9DoD","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL19974926?itok=BYSazfJQ","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL19974926?itok=tybb9DoD","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL19974926?itok=BYSazfJQ","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19974926?itok=gEOfWs88","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19974926?itok=7bjebdtW","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19974926?itok=ur_sLavX"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL19974926&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"682"}
1 October 2015
Barbara McGrady
Call # n88GOXvn
Digital ID:
n/a
View collection item detail

Koori Knockout supporters in stands, seated and standing. — Koori Knockout supporters from Moree, Dubbo, Wiradjuri Country {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/koori-knockout-supporters-moree-dubbo-wiradjuri-country","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975442?itok=m5fokssm","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975442?itok=_Gk9A_P9","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975442?itok=m5fokssm","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975442?itok=_Gk9A_P9","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975442?itok=vTEKQ6N-","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975442?itok=rVeMPGGa","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975442?itok=CUyAW-3_"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL19975442&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"648"}
1 October 2015
Barbara McGrady
Call # nvgpxP51
Digital ID:
n/a
View collection item detail

Player standing on field with water on her face. Man stands beside her with water bottles and towel. — Mahalia Murphy of the Mindaribba Sisters playing in a game her team would go on to lose against the Redfern All Blacks at the Koori Knockout in Raymond Terrace {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/mahalia-murphy-mindaribba-sisters-playing-game-her-team-would-go-lose-against","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL19976050?itok=TUS18TT5","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL19976050?itok=NTBR1BEq","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL19976050?itok=TUS18TT5","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL19976050?itok=NTBR1BEq","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19976050?itok=stqs3Ahg","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19976050?itok=W0_XZKDL","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19976050?itok=MdBfqxn7"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL19976050&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"682"}
2014
Barbara McGrady
Call # n88GOXvn
Digital ID:
n/a
View collection item detail

Toomelah Tigers supporters cheering their team on — Toomelah Tigers supporters at the Koori Knockout in Dubbo, cheering their team on {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/toomelah-tigers-supporters-koori-knockout-dubbo-cheering-their-team","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975091?itok=97r9c1mP","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975091?itok=m2byjGtr","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975091?itok=97r9c1mP","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975091?itok=m2byjGtr","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975091?itok=erv1p0JI","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975091?itok=A4Qd_ogA","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL19975091?itok=iFplRBnJ"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL19975091&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":null,"height":null}
1 October 2015
Barbara McGrady
Call # n88GOXvn
Digital ID:
n/a
View collection item detail

Barbara McGrady is a Gomeroi–Gamilaraay Murri photographer

The Koori Knockout exhibition is on show at the State Library, from Saturday 24 September 2022 to Sunday 27 August 2023.

This story appears in Openbook spring 2022.