Sonny Simms was elected to ATSIC and the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, where he has been a strong advocate for culture and human rights. He was an excellent rugby league player and bantamweight boxer who worked in Roy Bell’s travelling boxing troupe. Sonny is now involved in sharing culture with younger people.
Interviews with Sonny’s mother and other relatives can be found here .
Sonny Simms – Elder and Cultural Mentor
Arnold Bell and his life as a travelling showman – ABC News
Listen to Uncle Sonny’s Interview
Part 1:
Part 2:
Uncle Sonny’s audio interview can be downloaded here: Part One and Part Two .
Uncle Sonny’s interview transcripts: Part One and Part Two .
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License .
Uncle Sonny’s Photo Album
La Perouse All Blacks – c.1940s.
John Henry and Maude Simms at La Perouse – 1920s.
Joseph Simms
Roseby Park School, Orient Point.
Sonny Simms and family members
Pupils of Roseby Park School – Sonny’s mother Barbara top row, 2nd person.
Barbara Timbery – Sonny’s Mother.
View of Aboriginal Reserve at La Perouse in its original position, c.1920s.
Simms family home (on right) from where John and Maude sold artefacts. The little girl is Marie Simms (1926-1991).
Christina Dixon – Sonny’s grandmother.
La Perouse Rugby League Club, 1932.
Lynette Simms
Djiriba Waagura – Matthew Simms’ Business
Crookhaven Magpies Rugby League Club, 1978 – Sonny Simms top right
Matthew Simms – Sonny’s son.
Bell’s Boxing Tent
Bomaderry Children’s Home
Henry “Sonny” Simms
Wes Simms with French officers holding boomerangs
Wes Simms with five men, three with boomerangs
Jack and Wes Simms showing a boomerang to a naval officer
Jack Simms making boomerangs
Children at Bomaderry Children’s Home
Children at Bomaderry Children’s Home
Children at Bomaderry Children’s Home
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
