Decision details

Moved by Councillor Weldon, seconded by the Chair (the Lord Mayor) –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         the recent passing of Anthony William Mundine OAM, known to many as Uncle Tony, on Sunday 30 August 2026, aged 75

(a)       Uncle Tony, a proud Bundjalung man, was born on 9 June 1951 at Baryulgil, near Grafton on the north coast of New South Wales

(b)       he moved to Sydney as a young man and learned his craft at Ern McQuillan’s gym in Newtown, making his professional debut in 1969

(c)       over a professional career spanning 15 years, Uncle Tony fought 96 times for 80 wins, 64 of them by knockout. He remains the only Australian boxer to have competed professionally across 4 weight divisions

(d)       he held Australian titles at middleweight, light heavyweight, cruiserweight and heavyweight, as well as Commonwealth titles at middleweight and light heavyweight, and reigned as Australian light heavyweight champion from 1975 until his retirement in 1984

(e)       in October 1974, Uncle Tony travelled to Buenos Aires to challenge Carlos Monzon for the world middleweight title, at a time when few Aboriginal athletes were given the opportunity to compete on the world stage

(f)        in 1986, Uncle Tony was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to sport and to Aboriginal youth. He received the Ella Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sport in 2004 and was inducted into the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005

(g)       beyond the ring, Uncle Tony’s greatest legacy is in Redfern. For decades he ran his gym at The Block, where generations of young people, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, found strength, discipline, guidance and a sense of belonging

(h)       he was a much-loved son of Redfern, a former player for the Redfern All Blacks, and a steady and familiar presence in our community for more than 50 years

(i)        Uncle Tony was farewelled at Redfern Oval on Saturday 5 September 2026 by family, community and friends from across the country, where he was remembered as a steady anchor, an unending source of wisdom and a warm embrace

(j)        he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle, the father of world champion Anthony Mundine and the grandfather of professional boxer Rahim Mundine. In the words of his family, he was loved, he is loved, and he will be forever loved

(k)       Uncle Tony was a trailblazer for Aboriginal people in sport, and his achievements in the ring were matched by his service to community. He will be greatly missed

(B)      the Lord Mayor be requested to write to the family of Uncle Tony Mundine OAM expressing Council’s condolences

(C)      all persons attending this meeting of Council observe one minute’s silence to commemorate the life of Uncle Tony Mundine OAM and his commitment and contribution to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, as well as the broader community.

Carried unanimously.

X113758

Note – All Councillors, staff and members of the public present stood in silence for one minute as a mark of respect to Anthony William Mundine OAM.