Raised at Burnt Bridge Mission, Dunghutti man Dave Sands rose from humble beginnings to become a boxing legend in the 1940s and 50s. Decades later his family is striving to keep his story alive.
The family of Dave Sands has given the ABC permission to use photographs of him. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article also contains images and names ofIndigenous boxer Dave Sands was raised at Burnt Bridge Mission on the NSW Mid North Coast and from humble beginnings went on to become an Australian boxing legend, rising to remarkable success in the 1940s and 50s.
He held three national titles at once, in the middle, light-heavy and heavyweight divisions, and also the Australasian light heavyweight title. The belt was recently presented to his relatives in the NSW parliament, including his nephew Phillip Dotti and grandson Chad Ritchie. "It gives me belief that, not just in sport but in life itself, if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything … and that's something I've always been proud of.The presentation of the replica belt came after a long-term quest by Mr Dotti to set things straight."Sands was the first Aboriginal [person] to go overseas and win a boxing title and come back with that title. But [he] was never given the full recognition of such a feat," Mr Dotti said.
Mr Dotti said he hoped to arrange a display at some point of the replica belt and other boxing memorabilia of Sands in his home town of Kempsey.
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