Famous and not so famous underdogs

Aussies love an underdog...

There is something unique and deep in the Australian psyche that has us cheering for the 'underdog'. Rarely do underdogs win in the end, but when they do...ah, the celebrations! Below are some of our famous and infamous underdogs that you might like to investigate further for your multimodal text.

'I'm goin' for the underdog...I have to.' He laughs a little, sympathetically. 'Gotta go for the underdog.'
('The Underdog' by Markus Zusak, p. 76.)

Noel Pearson

Noel Pearson today, is best known for his wide-ranging views on Indigenous issues. Whilst he is no underdog, we know that indigenous Australians need strong advocates. Noel Pearson works tirelessly to improve the lives of indigenous people.

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Chris Yarran

Chris Yarran is one of the many super-talented AFL players who rose above disadvantage to follow his dream of becoming an AFL player. There are many similar stories of indigenous players whose journey to the AFL has not been easy. They are inspirational stories.

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Burke and Wills

The tragedy of the Burke and Wills story (and let's not forget Gray!) was that few would have expected them to succeed in their quest to find a route from the south to the north of the continent. They confounded the critics. It was on their return journey that tragedy struck.

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Peter Lalor and the Eureka Stockade

Peter Lalor's connection to Ballarat is well known. The popular uprising that became known as the 'Eureka Stockade' lives on in the cultural memory of Australians. Many see this 'civil war' as the birth of democracy in Australia.

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Ned Kelly

The jury may have already decided the guilt of Ned Kelly, but for many Australians at the time - and perhaps today - Australia's most famous bushranger symbolised the fight of the underdog; taking on the might of the establishment.

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Albert Namatjira

Albert Namatjira's paintings are national treasures. He was the first internationally recognised artist - painting in the 'western' style. His bold use of colour created never-seen-before landscapes that to this day, are some of the best examples of Australian landscape painting ever seen. His story is remarkable.

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Steve Bradbury - Olympic Speedskater

Salt Lake City, 2002. The Olympic Winter Games. The 1000m men's speed skating final was expected to be anything but sensational. But, sensational it was. The 'accidental hero' Steve Bradbury from Australia wins after all of his rivals tumble (literally) out of the final. Read more about his journey to the 2002 Winter Olympics.

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Harold Larwood - Bodyline Bowler

Harold Larwood could have possibly been the most hated man in Australia in the 1932-3 'Bodyline' series. Captain Douglas Jardine instructed him to bowl what they both insisted on calling ` leg theory'. Larwood was never to play for England again. In 1950 Larwood, his wife and five daughters decided to embark with thousands of other Brits and emigrate to Australia. You would think that he would be despised when it became known that he was going to call Australia home; the country where 'bodyline' still hit a nerve. But instead, the country welcomed him with open arms. Read a biography of Harold Larwood...

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Susan Boyle 'Britain's Got Talent'

Susan Boyle was undoubtedly the most famous new celebrity of 2009. She stunned the judges and then the world with her performance of 'I Dreamed a Dream'. Staged, contrived, does it really matter? Here is one underdog who had her day!

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Jason McCartney

Our best known 'underdogs' rise above the tragedies that befall them. In Bali on October 12 2002, the last thing on Jason McCartney's mind would have been a terrorist attack. His journey back from the brink, is truly remarkable and one of the great underdog stories of our times.

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Jesse Martin - "Lionheart" Voyage

Our fascination with the ocean and with ocean voyages could be traced to our earliest explorers. Jesse Martin's unique and gallant solo, 'round the world sail at the age of 18, makes him not only 'super underdog' but an inspiration to many young Australians. His journey and what he has learnt from this life-changing expedition will be an inspiration and what's more, you can read it in his own words.

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