Marcia Ella-Duncan (b. 1963), a descendant of the Yuin nation, was the first Indigenous scholarship holder at the Australian Institute of Sport and the first Indigenous woman to play international netball for Australia. The younger sister of Australian rugby stars Mark, Glen and Gary Ella, she represented NSW at Under-21 level before being included in the national squad that toured England in 1986. In 1987 she played in Netball's World Championships in Scotland, at which the Australian team finished equal runners-up. In all she has received 18 Test caps for Australia. Ella-Duncan has a long history of involvement in Aboriginal affairs in areas such as criminal justice, community development and land management, with a particular passion for family and child well-being. She chaired the NSW Aboriginal Child Sexual Assault Taskforce, and has been a member of the NSW Aboriginal Child Sexual Assault Ministerial Advisory Panel and the Northern Territory Emergency Response Review Board. Viewing sport as an effective way to promote individual and community health, self-worth and pride, she continues to coach young Aboriginal people.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2006
© Sahlan Hayes
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Introduction The National Portrait Gallery’s photographic exhibition Flash: Australian Athletes in Focus explores various interpretations of Australian sporting men and women.
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