Final Score 102 and the Loss of a Legend

Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
5 Jun 2009

Bishop Ted Collins of Darwin congratulate Br John Pye on his 100th birthday

The man credited with introducing Aussie Rules Football to the Northern Territory and the Top End's longest serving missionary has died at 102.

Brother John Pye was loved and respected by the Indigenous communities who now play the game with great passion and skill.

Known as the Father of Football, Brother Pye used the game to create better relations between people in the missions.

"Br Pye was a religious brother who attracted an enormous amount of respect and whose name has become part of Territory folklore. His passing is a huge loss

to the Territory and Territorians," NT Chief Minister, Paul Henderson said.

Br Pye's family was among the first to be given land when the convicts came to Australia.

Growing up in the Riverina region of NSW, he was the son of a police sergeant and a publican's daughter.

An outstanding athlete from an early age, legend has it that in his hey-day, he could kick a goal easily from the half-way mark of an AFL field. But it was

Br Pye's passion for the game and his skill as a coach that earned him the love and respect of sportsmen everywhere.

When he turned 100, Br Pye insisted he could still kick a football over Apsley Strait, the open stretch of water separating Bathurst and Melville Islands in

the Top End.

He said at the time, "Everywhere I have gone I have taken Australian football with me and I am very proud of that."

"The Tiwi people were natural at it – very fast and agile. When I arrived, there were eight different groups on Bathurst Island. So I thought I would unite

them using Aussie Rules."

Football was already being played when he arrived on the Islands in 1940 as a missionary and teacher. However the game being played was like none he had seen

before. The locals played on the beaches in bare feet with a leather carcass of a football stuffed with rags and the game had no rules, just kick and catch

and get it over the line.

Br Pye changed all that and instilled the Tiwi Islanders with the rules, skills and passion they have since carried with them.

"But I knew it was no good teaching them Aussie Rules if they had no opponents," he said and set about raising funds so he could take the local teams on tour

to play matches in Perth, Broome, Sydney and other cities.

Over the years, Br Pye coached some of the greats of football including former Essendon co-captain, Michael Long, Richmond legend, Maurice Riolo and rising

Hawthorn star, Cyril Rioli.

Former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy said this week," Br Pye should be remembered as one of the quiet heroes of football who deserves serious acclaim."

The Bishop of Darwin, Bishop Eugene Hurley described Br Pye as an Icon of the Territory.

"He was a great Christian brother who committed his life to serving other people," he said, adding that Br Pye spent 70 years as a missionary of which 52

were spent on the Tiwi Islands.

The people of the Islands called him "Punderelime", meaning crocodile tail but connoting strength and maturity.

In his later years Br Pye wrote many stories and short books about the communities in which he worked.

He was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 1986 in recognition of his services to Indigenous people.

On Friday morning June 5,St Mary's Cathedral in Darwin was overflowing with friends and people Br Pye had met during his many decades in the Territory, as

well as fellow brothers from Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Bishop Hurley and the Northern Territory Chief Minister who gathered for his funeral.

However Br Pye always wanted to be buried on his beloved Tiwi Islands.

Following the morning Mass, Indigenous leaders, communities and students from all the islands welcomed him back to Bathurst Island for a final Mass and

traditional farewell.