Gary Dhurrkay
Encyclopedia
Gary Dhurrkay was an Australian rules football
er and Aboriginal Australian community leader.
Dhurkkay was a part of East Fremantle Football Club
's 1994 premiership in the WAFL
, before being a part of Fremantle
's inaugural AFL
team in 1995.
After an inconsistent season in 1998, he was demoted to the WAFL
for much of the year, and played in East Fremantle Football Club
's 1998 premiership. At the end of the year he was delisted by Fremantle, but the Kangaroos
gave him a second chance when they selected him with selection 31 in the 1998 AFL Draft
. After playing 21 games in the 1999 and 2000 season at his new club, Dhurrkay retired in mid-2000 to focus on his Aboriginal cultural beliefs and became a leader of the Marngarr community in Arnhem Land
, Northern Territory
.
At about 5am on 21 August 2005, Dhurkkay was fatally injured in a car accident on the Melville Bay Road, Arnhem Land when his car rolled and he was thrown from his vehicle. He was 31 years of age.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er and Aboriginal Australian community leader.
Dhurkkay was a part of East Fremantle Football Club
East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
's 1994 premiership in the WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
, before being a part of Fremantle
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
's inaugural AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
team in 1995.
After an inconsistent season in 1998, he was demoted to the WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
for much of the year, and played in East Fremantle Football Club
East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
's 1998 premiership. At the end of the year he was delisted by Fremantle, but the Kangaroos
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
gave him a second chance when they selected him with selection 31 in the 1998 AFL Draft
1998 AFL Draft
The 1998 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and a rookie elevation. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.In 1998 there...
. After playing 21 games in the 1999 and 2000 season at his new club, Dhurrkay retired in mid-2000 to focus on his Aboriginal cultural beliefs and became a leader of the Marngarr community in Arnhem Land
Arnhem Land
The Arnhem Land Region is one of the five regions of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the territory and is around 500 km from the territory capital Darwin. The region has an area of 97,000 km² which also covers the area of Kakadu National...
, Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
.
At about 5am on 21 August 2005, Dhurkkay was fatally injured in a car accident on the Melville Bay Road, Arnhem Land when his car rolled and he was thrown from his vehicle. He was 31 years of age.