Blak excellence on full display at Ironman Cairns

Malachi Murljacic, who has strong roots in Bourke, showed the results of training and dedication, completing the gruelling Ironman Cairns event. Photo contributed

Nine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes crossed the finish line at Ironman Cairns on June 15th - more than doubling the number of Indigenous people to ever complete an Ironman triathlon in Australia – and one of them has strong links to Bourke.

Until recently, only 12 First Nations athletes had ever completed the gruelling event over a 40-year period. But thanks to IronMob, an Indigenous-led training program under Australia’s first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander triathlon club TriMob, that number has now surged to 29, with more athletes already training for future races.

Among those proudly wearing their culture on their sleeves was Malachi Murljacic, a proud Kunja man with deep family ties to Bourke.

“My dad, Ian Martin, is from Bourke, along with my Uncle Tony Martin and Aunty Robyn Martin. My grandparents grew up on the Aboriginal mission there. My nan was Gladys Edwards, and my pop was Keith Martin. The grandstand at the local football oval is named after him,” Mr Murljacic said.

Though born on the East Coast and raised in Gawler, South Australia, Mr Murljacic still visits Bourke when he can and is currently working on the revival of the Kunja language, which will bring him back to the region more often.

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