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Sonny Morey was born in 1945 on [[Yambah Station]] in the [[Northern Territory]] of Australia,[{{cite web |title=AFL launches 2024 Sir Doug Nicholls Round with theme Spirit Strong, Game On |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1130226/afl-launches-2024-sir-doug-nicholls-round-with-theme-spirit-strong-game-on |publisher=AFL |date=15 May 2024 |access-date=25 September 2025}}] An [[Arrernte people|Arrernte]] man, he was removed from his family as part of the [[Stolen Generations]][{{cite news |title=From member of the Stolen Generation to iconic state footballer: the Sonny Morey story |url=https://nit.com.au/16-05-2024/11435/from-member-of-the-stolen-generation-to-iconic-state-footballer-the-sonny-morey-story |work=National Indigenous Times |date=16 May 2024 |access-date=25 September 2025}}] at the age of seven. |
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Sonny Morey was born in 1945 on [[Yambah Station]] in the [[Northern Territory]] of Australia,[{{cite web |title=AFL launches 2024 Sir Doug Nicholls Round with theme Spirit Strong, Game On |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1130226/afl-launches-2024-sir-doug-nicholls-round-with-theme-spirit-strong-game-on |publisher=AFL |date=15 May 2024 |access-date=25 September 2025}}] An [[Arrernte people|Arrernte]] man, he was removed from his family as part of the [[Stolen Generations]][{{cite news |title=From member of the Stolen Generation to iconic state footballer: the Sonny Morey story |url=https://nit.com.au/16-05-2024/11435/from-member-of-the-stolen-generation-to-iconic-state-footballer-the-sonny-morey-story |work=National Indigenous Times |date=16 May 2024 |access-date=25 September 2025}}] at the age of seven. |
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Morey spent part of his childhood at [[St. Mary's Hostel (Alice Springs)|St Mary’s Hostel]] in [[Alice Springs]], where he lived for six years before being transferred in 1958[{{cite web |title=Sonny Morey |url=https://www.morethanourchildhoods.org/stories/sonny-morey/ |website=More Than Our Childhoods |access-date=25 September 2025}}] [[St Francis House]], a home for [[Aboriginal Australians|Aboriginal]] boys in the [[Adelaide]] beachside suburb of [[Semaphore, South Australia|Semaphore]], run by Church of England missionaries. With him at the home were [[Charles Perkins (Aboriginal activist)|Charlie Perkins]] (later an Aboriginal rights activist), [[Harold Thomas (artist)|Harold Thomas]] (who later designed the [[Aboriginal flag]]), and artist and soccer player [[John Kundereri Moriarty]].[{{cite web |last1=Jash |first1=Tahnee |last2=Wellauer |first2=Kirstie |title=More than 100 Stolen Generations survivors gather for apology anniversary |website=ABC News |date=12 February 2026 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-13/largest-gathering-of-stolen-generations-survivors-for-apology/106322950 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260214042352/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-13/largest-gathering-of-stolen-generations-survivors-for-apology/106322950 |archive-date=14 February 2026 |url-status=live |access-date=14 February 2026}}] His surname was changed from Gorey to Morey by authorities.[{{cite web |title=Sonny Morey |url=https://www.careexperienceandculture.com/master/sonny-morey |publisher=Care Experience & Culture |access-date=25 September 2025}}] |
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Morey spent part of his childhood at [[St. Mary's Hostel (Alice Springs)|St Mary’s Hostel]] in [[Alice Springs]], where he lived for six years before being transferred in 1958[{{cite web |title=Sonny Morey |url=https://www.morethanourchildhoods.org/stories/sonny-morey/ |website=More Than Our Childhoods |access-date=25 September 2025}}] [[St Francis House]], a home for [[Aboriginal Australians|Aboriginal]] boys in the [[Adelaide]] beachside suburb of [[Semaphore, South Australia|Semaphore]], run by Church of England missionaries. With him at the home were [[Charles Perkins (Aboriginal activist)|Charlie Perkins]] (later an Aboriginal rights activist), [[Harold Thomas (artist)|Harold Thomas]] (who later designed the [[Aboriginal flag]]), and artist and soccer player [[John Kundereri Moriarty]].[{{cite web |last1=Jash |first1=Tahnee |last2=Wellauer |first2=Kirstie |title=More than 100 Stolen Generations survivors gather for apology anniversary |website=ABC News |date=12 February 2026 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-13/largest-gathering-of-stolen-generations-survivors-for-apology/106322950 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260214042352/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-13/largest-gathering-of-stolen-generations-survivors-for-apology/106322950 |archive-date=14 February 2026 |url-status=live |access-date=14 February 2026}}] His surname was changed from Gorey to Morey by authorities.[{{cite web |title=Sonny Morey |url=https://www.careexperienceandculture.com/master/sonny-morey |publisher=Care Experience & Culture |access-date=25 September 2025}}] |
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A year later, St Francis House closed down, and he was fostered out to a family at the age of 14.[ His foster parents were Ada and Sydney Maguire. He began playing junior football with Gawler Centrals, one of three clubs comprising [[Gawler Football Club]] in [[Gawler]], South Australia. There he won under-17 and senior best-and-fairest awards.][{{cite web |title=Fall and rise: The incredible story of SA footy great Sonny Morey |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1129001/the-fall-and-rise-of-sa-footy-great-and-2024-sir-doug-nicholls-round-honouree-sonny-morey |publisher=AFL |date=23 May 2024 |access-date=25 September 2025}}] |
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A year later, St Francis House closed down, and he was fostered out to a family at the age of 14.[ His foster parents were Ada and Sydney Maguire. He began playing junior football with Gawler Centrals, one of three clubs comprising [[Gawler Football Club]] in [[Gawler]], South Australia. There he won under-17 and senior best-and-fairest awards.][{{cite web |title=Fall and rise: The incredible story of SA footy great Sonny Morey |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1129001/the-fall-and-rise-of-sa-footy-great-and-2024-sir-doug-nicholls-round-honouree-sonny-morey |publisher=AFL |date=23 May 2024 |access-date=25 September 2025}}] |
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Morey played a total of 213 senior games for [[Central District Football Club|Central District]] in the SANFL between 1964 and 1977. |
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Morey played a total of 213 senior games for [[Central District Football Club|Central District]] in the SANFL between 1964 and 1977. |
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He made his senior debut in Central District's inaugural SANFL season in 1964 and recorded the club’s first league kick.[{{cite web |title=Sonny Morey – Hall of Fame |url=https://cdfc.com.au/history/hall-of-fame/sonny-morey |publisher=Central District Football Club |access-date=25 September 2025}}] |
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He made his senior debut in Central District's inaugural SANFL season in 1964 and recorded the club’s first league kick.[{{cite web |title=Sonny Morey – Hall of Fame |url=https://cdfc.com.au/history/hall-of-fame/sonny-morey |publisher=Central District Football Club |access-date=25 September 2025}}] |
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Morey won Central's Best and Fairest award in 1970. |
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Morey won Central's Best and Fairest award in 1970. |
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He became the first Central District player to reach 200 games in 1976.[{{cite web |title=Sonny Morey – SANFL Hall of Fame |url=https://sanfl.com.au/history/hall-of-fame/sonny-morey/ |publisher=SANFL |access-date=25 September 2025}}] He retired the following year, finishing with 213 appearances and 28 goals. |
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He became the first Central District player to reach 200 games in 1976.[{{cite web |title=Sonny Morey – SANFL Hall of Fame |url=https://sanfl.com.au/history/hall-of-fame/sonny-morey/ |publisher=SANFL |access-date=25 September 2025}}] He retired the following year, finishing with 213 appearances and 28 goals. |
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During his career, he represented [[South Australia]] in four interstate matches. |
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During his career, he represented [[South Australia]] in four interstate matches. |
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==Coaching and later career== |
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==Coaching and later career== |
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After retiring, Morey coached [[Eudunda Football Club]] from 1978 to 1980, guiding them to a premiership in 1978.[{{cite news |title=Morey named AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round honouree |url=https://nit.com.au/25-03-2024/10453/morey-named-afls-sir-doug-nicholls-round-honouree |work=National Indigenous Times |date=25 March 2024 |access-date=25 September 2025}}] |
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After retiring, Morey coached [[Eudunda Football Club]] from 1978 to 1980, guiding them to a premiership in 1978.[{{cite news |title=Morey named AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round honouree |url=https://nit.com.au/25-03-2024/10453/morey-named-afls-sir-doug-nicholls-round-honouree |work=National Indigenous Times |date=25 March 2024 |access-date=25 September 2025}}] |
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He later coached Central District’s under-17s between 1981 and 1988, including their 1985 premiership. |
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He later coached Central District’s under-17s between 1981 and 1988, including their 1985 premiership. |
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Outside football, Morey worked as a [[fitter and turner]], storeman, and sports store manager. He also served for 12 years with [[South Australia Police]], where he worked in community engagement roles.[{{cite web |title=SA Indigenous icon Sonny Morey |url=https://sanfl.com.au/league/news/sa-indigenous-icon-sonny-morey/ |publisher=SANFL |date=5 July 2022 |access-date=25 September 2025}}] |
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Outside football, Morey worked as a [[fitter and turner]], storeman, and sports store manager. He also served for 12 years with [[South Australia Police]], where he worked in community engagement roles.[{{cite web |title=SA Indigenous icon Sonny Morey |url=https://sanfl.com.au/league/news/sa-indigenous-icon-sonny-morey/ |publisher=SANFL |date=5 July 2022 |access-date=25 September 2025}}] |
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==Honours and recognition== |
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==Honours and recognition== |
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* Honoured in the [[Australian Football League|AFL]]’s 2024 [[Sir Doug Nicholls Round]] |
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* Honoured in the [[Australian Football League|AFL]]’s 2024 [[Sir Doug Nicholls Round]] |
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* Featured in [[AFL.com.au]] article: "Fall and rise: The incredible story of SA footy great Sonny Morey" (2024) |
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* Featured in [[AFL.com.au]] article: "Fall and rise: The incredible story of SA footy great Sonny Morey" (2024) |
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* Profiled in ''The Advertiser'' on life, legacy and racism in South Australian football (2024)[{{cite news |title='This means a lot for SA football': Sonny’s great honour |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/lifestyle/sa-weekend/footy-has-always-treated-me-as-an-equal-trailblazer-sonny-morey-on-life-legacy-and-racism/news-story/5022627d89fa60f5a07a0780cb289427 |work=The Advertiser |date=25 May 2024 |access-date=25 September 2025}}] |
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* Profiled in ''The Advertiser'' on life, legacy and racism in South Australian football (2024)[{{cite news |title='This means a lot for SA football': Sonny’s great honour |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/lifestyle/sa-weekend/footy-has-always-treated-me-as-an-equal-trailblazer-sonny-morey-on-life-legacy-and-racism/news-story/5022627d89fa60f5a07a0780cb289427 |work=The Advertiser |date=25 May 2024 |access-date=25 September 2025}}] |
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==Personal life== |
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==Personal life== |
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Morey married Carmel, and they have two daughters. |
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Morey married Carmel, and they have two daughters. |
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He never saw his mother again despite looking for her all of his life, but later discovered that she had also searched for him after his removal, until her death in 1992. After learning of her death, he had been unable to find where she had been buried.[ In early 2026, shortly before the 18th anniversary of the [[National Apology to the Stolen Generations]] (13 February), Morey was at last informed that her burial site was on [[Napperby Station]], north-west of Alice Springs. At his first attendance of a breakfast gathering in [[Canberra]] to mark the anniversary, he met other survivors of the Stolen Generations, including four of his "sisters" who had lived at St Mary's Hostel when he was there as a child.] |
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He never saw his mother again despite looking for her all of his life, but later discovered that she had also searched for him after his removal, until her death in 1992. After learning of her death, he had been unable to find where she had been buried.[ In early 2026, shortly before the 18th anniversary of the [[National Apology to the Stolen Generations]] (13 February), Morey was at last informed that her burial site was on [[Napperby Station]], north-west of Alice Springs. At his first attendance of a breakfast gathering in [[Canberra]] to mark the anniversary, he met other survivors of the Stolen Generations, including four of his "sisters" who had lived at St Mary's Hostel when he was there as a child.] |
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{{Reflist}} |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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==External links== |
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* {{AustralianFootball}} |
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* {{AustralianFootball}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Morey, Sonny}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Morey, Sonny}} |
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[[Category:1945 births]] |
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[[Category:1945 births]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:Central District Football Club players]] |
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[[Category:Central District Football Club players]] |
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[[Category:South Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees]] |
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[[Category:South Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees]] |
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[[Category:Indigenous Australian players of Australian rules football]] |
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[[Category:Indigenous Australian players of Australian rules football]] |
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[[Category:Stolen Generations]] |
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[[Category:Stolen Generations]] |
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[[Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen]] |
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