Hand-written encouragement for mate
17.07.2003
SIX years ago a young runner from Badu Island in the Torres Strait, Nancy Nona, came to stay with my family.
She was completing tertiary studies, but her main purpose in life was to prove herself as a 400m runner.
It was no surprise that her hero was her ``black sister'', Cathy Freeman.
Nancy, a shy, elfin woman -- the youngest of 14 children in her family -- had a chance meeting with Cathy's mother, Cecilia Barber.
They struck up a friendship to the extent that Nancy used go to Mrs Barber's home and babysit children of the extended family.
Then she met Cathy, who was home for a short rest from heavy competition overseas -- and in the lead-up to the Sydney Olympics.
The two struck up a special friendship, with Cathy inviting Nancy to several barbecues over the next couple of weeks -- quiet functions held at suburban Brisbane homes.
Cathy encouraged the young woman to keep up her running, and gave her some tips.
And -- most prized of all -- she gave her a pair of run-
ning spikes.
Nancy was just besotted with Cathy, and the walls of her room were covered in pictures and news articles of the remarkable athlete.
And each fortnight, without fail, a hand-written letter would arrive from Cathy, containing all the news, girl-chat, and encouragement for her new-found ``sister''.
Cathy does not have to prove anything to Aboriginal boxer Anthony Mundine or anybody about her ``contribution'' to the ``Aboriginal cause''.
She does it in the most direct way -- by giving real friendship and example.
