Dick-a-Dick

Dick-a-Dick also known as Yanggendyinanyuk (also recorded as Lavanya, Jumgumjenanuke or Jungunjinuke, c. 1834 – 22 August 1886) was an Australian Aboriginal tracker and cricketer, a Wotjobaluk man who spoke the Wergaia language in the Wimmera region of western Victoria, Australia. He was a member of the first Australian cricket team to tour England in 1868 and was one of the most well-known Aboriginal people of the nineteenth century.

Early life Dick-a-Dick was born in the area around what is now Nhill, Victoria, the eldest son of Wotjobaluk Chief Balrootan. He later claimed that, aged about ten, he was present at the European discovery of Nhill by explorers Dugald MacPherson and George Belcher in 1844 when they were searching for land to run sheep.

The official search was cancelled soon after the storm and newspapers reported the children as dead. On Thursday, 18 August, a neighbour of the Duff's suggested asking Dick-a-Dick and other Wotjobaluk trackers for assistance; the parents, who had not given up hope of finding their children, readily agreed. Dick-a-Dick was lauded a hero and subsequently called Big Dick and King Richard. He and his tracker colleagues received a reward of £15 between them, of which £5 they could spend in whatever way they wished, while the remainder was given to their white employer to ensure it was 'not wasted'.

Sportsman Dick-a-Dick was renowned for his skill in traditional weapons including the use of a waddy and shield. His star act was to challenge men to hit him with cricket ball thrown from 15 paces. Even when four balls were thrown at the same time, he was apparently only ever hit once, but claimed he was not ready at the time. He also always won the backwards sprint. He protected his body and head with the shield and his legs with the waddy and would slowly move towards the men and suddenly yell, frightening everyone. A replica of Dick-a-Dick's club is held at the Lord's Cricket Ground museum.

Referred to as "a famous athlete with a good running and long jumping record" "He was a fine strapping, handsome fellow, and must have had an eye like a hawk to escape the flying cricket balls as he did invariably. He would glance to leg with his shield, play in the slips with his leongile, and avoid the other two balls by leaping in the air, straddling his legs, or twisting his body like lightning, this all done at once and as quick as thought." Dick-a-Dick also threw a cricket ball in Australia, and matched that distance in England, and which was only bettered by W.G. Grace. and won a high jump competition, clearing , gaining appreciation for his smooth jumping style.

Cricketer

The Aboriginal team at the MCG in December 1866. Dick-a-Dick is standing at the far right While Dick-a-Dick's skill as a cricketer was less than his other sporting endeavours, he was chosen in the Aboriginal cricket team that played matches in Victoria and New South Wales and toured England. The team uniform was white trousers, red shirts with diagonal blue sashes, blue belts and neckties, while each cricketer was given a different coloured cap; Dick-a-Dick's was yellow.

On this team he was said to be "one of the best long-leg" in the game and that his running and throwing skills were admirable. He was, however, most praised for his post match performances where he would exhibit his traditional skills and weapons in a form of so-called 'native sports. To do this he, ad other men on the team, would change from their uniforms into black tights, possum skin trunks and headdresses adorned with lyrebird feathers. Referred to as "amiable and curious", Dick-a-Dick had a friendly disposition and was well-liked, with Charles Lawrence years later remembering him with real affection.

Post-England tour After returning from the cricket tour of England, his health deteriorated and he travelled back to his traditional country and the Ebenezer Mission where he was forced to live due to the government restrictions of the day.

On 19 February 1871, while living there, Dick-a-Dick married Eliza Townsend, a widowed Aboriginal woman and they had two children together; Richard and Ida Kennedy.

Dick-a-Dick was known by a number of names throughout his life. In addition to his birth name, Djungadjinganook, and its spelling variants Jumgumjenanuke and Jungunjinuke, he was also known as King Billy, King Dick and Kennedy (in honour of an Edenhope policeman, named Thomas Kennedy, who he admired). His descendants adopted Kennedy as their surname. He was not worried about the trip to England, as he knew the captain had prayed for a safe arrival.

In 1875 Dick-a-Dick was transferred from Ebenezer to the Ararat Lunatic Asylum while suffering a ‘great depression of mind’ and for being suicidal and refusing to speak. He remained there for eight months and would spend periods of time there for the remainder of his life.

Dick-a-Dick's great-grandson William John Kennedy was a leading activist for Australian Aboriginal causes who was named "Male Elder of the Year" at the 2003 National NAIDOC Week Awards.