Mark Ella's place in rugby folklore is secure as both player and ground-breaker.
Born and raised in Sydney's La Perouse, alongside five brothers and six sisters, he went on to enter the Wallabies Hall of Fame.
But he's never forgotten his roots, and his role as Head of Sport for NITV keeps him engaged.
"There's a lot of respect for the elders that I've dealt with over the years," Ella said. "It's a unique culture that I'm very proud of being involved with."
The only man to ever score a try in every match of a Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland, Ella retired from international rugby aged just 25.
Mark Ella in his junior rugby days. Source: Supplied
But his place in the sport's pantheon of greats was already secure.
That may not have happened if he hadn't found a way to deal with the abuse he and his brothers faced growing up.
"We probably responded by fighting, but after a little while we realised that we were leading by 50 points - that hurt more than throwing a few punches," Ella said.
The Ella brothers Mark, Glen and Gary on the Sydney Harbour foreshore Source: AAP
Captaining Australia 10 times in his 25-test playing career reflected his impact on the sport in this country.
He spent five years living in Italy after ending his Wallabies career. During his time in Europe, he enjoyed raising awareness of his culture.
When asked why he looked different to other Australians he would respond: "No, I am Australian. I'm an Indigenous Australian, Aboriginal. And they'd go, 'Ooh'."
It's been 50 years since the historic 1967 Referendum, and Ella remains incredulous that full recognition for Indigenous people hasn't yet been enshrined in the Constitution.
"The mere fact we can't take that simple step is beyond me," he said.
