Nationality Australian Known for Art, Sport Education Flinders University Alma mater Flinders University Name John Moriarty Residence Sydney, Australia | Occupation Designer, Businessman Role Artist Children Julia Moriarty Employer Jumbana Group Spouse Ros Moriarty | |
Born c. 1938 (age 76–77) Borroloola, Northern Territory Ethnicity Indigenous Australian, Irish People also search for Julia Moriarty, Charles Perkins, Harry Williams | ||
John Kundereri Moriarty AM (born c. 1938) is an Indigenous Australian artist, government advisor and former football (soccer) player. He is most famous, as founder of the Balarinji Design Studio, for painting two Qantas jets with Aboriginal motifs.
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Today a full member of the Yanyuwa people of his birthplace, and belonging ceremonially to the rainbow snake and kangaroo Dreamings, Moriarty has held senior and executive positions in the Department of Aboriginal Affairs at both federal and state government levels. He is a long-time advocate for Indigenous rights and Indigenous arts.
Early life
Moriarty was born in Borroloola, Northern Territory to a tribal Aboriginal woman, who spoke seven Aboriginal languages, and an Irishman from County Kerry. As such he was classified as half-caste. The policy at that time was generally to remove half-caste children from "full-blood" mothers. He was removed from his mother at four years of age, making him part of the stolen generation. Up until that age, he spoke only the Yanyuwa language. His Aboriginal name is Jumbana and his ceremonial name is Kundareri. He was placed in a home for Aboriginal children at Mulgoa in the west of Sydney, and a few years later was moved to Adelaide.
Education
Moriarty received his schooling at St Francis House in Semaphore, South Australia. In 1970 Moriarty graduated from Flinders University with a Bachelor of Arts. He was later a recipient of a Churchill Fellowship.
Art
In 1983 Moriarty founded the Jumbana Group in Adelaide with the Balarinji brand being the most prominent component. Moriarty is Chairman and head designer of the group.
1994 Moriarty was commissioned by Qantas to design artwork for a Boeing 747-400 aeroplane. The finished result was the "Wunala Dreaming", which was first displayed on (VH-OJB), then on (VH-OEJ). A second aeroplane, a Boeing 747-300, was painted in 1995 and is known as "Nalanji Dreaming" (VH-EBU).
Soccer
Moriarty played his football for South Australian First Division teams Port Thistle, Adelaide Juventus before playing for Adelaide Croatia alongside St Francis College schoolmates Charles Perkins and Gordon Briscoe.
In 1960, Moriarty was the first recognised Indigenous Australian to be selected for a national soccer team. He was selected to play in an Australian national team tour to Hong Kong but the tour was cancelled after Australia's expulsion from FIFA. Moriarty's career ended after a collision with a goalkeeper. Moriarty represented the state of South Australia 17 times.
After retiring, Moriarty served on the board of Adelaide Juventus (later Adelaide City)
Working life
Prior to founding Balarinji, John was a public servant in various departments of Aboriginal affairs, both state and federal.
Between 1994 and 2004 Moriarty served on the board of Indigenous Business Australia.
He is a recipient of an Advance Australia Award for service to industry and commerce. He is also a member of the Order of Australia.
Writing
In 2000, he wrote an autobiography Saltwater Fella published by Viking Press. He and his brother Charles Perkins were interviewed by Australian journalist John Pilger in his 2002 book The New Rulers Of The World.