# Faith Thomas > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Faith_Thomas > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Faith_Thomas.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_Thomas > Source revision: 1353276120 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Australian cricketer, hockey player, and nurse (1933–2023)}} {{for|the American screenwriter|Faith Thomas (screenwriter)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Faith Thomas | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM|size=100%}} | image = | country = Australia | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date|1933|2|22|df=y}} | birth_place = [Nepabunna, South Australia](/source/Nepabunna%2C_South_Australia) | death_date = {{death date and age|2023|04|15|1933|2|22|df=y}} | death_place = | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Right-arm [fast](/source/Fast_bowling) | role = Bowler | international = true | onetest = true | testdebutdate = 21 February | testdebutyear = 1958 | testdebutagainst = England | club1 = [South Australia](/source/South_Australia_Women's_cricket_team) | year1 = 1956–1958 | columns = 2 | column1 = [WTest](/source/Women's_Test_cricket) | matches1 = 1 | runs1 = 3 | bat avg1 = 3.00 | 100s/50s1 = 0/0 | top score1 = 3 | deliveries1 = 36 | wickets1 = 0 | bowl avg1 = – | fivefor1 = – | tenfor1 = – | best bowling1 = – | catches/stumpings1 = 1/– | column2 = [WFC](/source/First-class_cricket) | matches2 = 7 | runs2 = 106 | bat avg2 = 13.25 | 100s/50s2 = 0/0 | top score2 = 38 | deliveries2 = 148 | wickets2 = 9 | bowl avg2 = 23.11 | fivefor2 = 0 | tenfor2 = 0 | best bowling2 = 4/79 | catches/stumpings2 = 1/0 | date = 17 April | year = 2023 | source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/faith-coulthard-53490 ESPNcricinfo |testcap=48|female=true}} '''Faith Thomas''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} ({{nee|'''Coulthard'''}}; 22 February 1933 – 15 April 2023), born '''Tinnipha''', was an Australian cricketer and [hockey player](/source/field_hockey).{{Cite web |title=Vale Aunty Faith Thomas |url=http://www.saca.com.au/news/vale-aunty-faith-thomas/2023-04-17 |access-date=17 April 2023 |website=Cricket SA |language=en |archive-date=17 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417021638/https://www.saca.com.au/news/vale-aunty-faith-thomas/2023-04-17 |url-status=live }} She was also a nurse in regional [South Australia](/source/South_Australia). Thomas is known for being the first [Indigenous](/source/Indigenous_Australians) woman to represent Australia in any sport as well as for her distinguished service to the Australian Indigenous community. ==Early life== Thomas was born at the [Nepabunna Aboriginal Mission](/source/Nepabunna%2C_South_Australia) in [South Australia](/source/South_Australia). Her mother, Ivy, was an [Adnyamathanha](/source/Adnyamathanha) woman and her father was [German](/source/Germans).{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2018/07/12/5-indigenous-women-who-didnt-get-credit|title=5 Indigenous women who didn't get the credit|website=NITV|language=en|access-date=4 March 2019|archive-date=6 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306051817/https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2018/07/12/5-indigenous-women-who-didnt-get-credit|url-status=live}} Her mother would take her to the [Colebrook Home](/source/Colebrook_Home) for Aboriginal Children in [Quorn](/source/Quorn%2C_South_Australia) when she was a baby.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/messagestick/stories/s1161638.htm|title=message stick – Faith Thomas|work=[ABC TV (Australia)](/source/ABC_TV_(Australia))|publisher=[Australian Broadcasting Corporation](/source/Australian_Broadcasting_Corporation)|accessdate=4 March 2015|archive-date=20 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520185916/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/messagestick/stories/s1161638.htm|url-status=live}}{{Citation | author1=Thomas, Faith | title=From the shoulder | date=1990 | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/38819051 | accessdate=9 November 2016 | archive-date=17 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417021638/https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/38819051 | url-status=live }} She would play cricket with other children at Colebrook, using stones as balls, and making bats from wood they found. == Nursing career == Thomas completed her nursing training at the [Royal Adelaide Hospital](/source/Royal_Adelaide_Hospital), graduating in 1954.{{Cite web |title=Faith Thomas |url=https://www.morethanourchildhoods.org/stories/faith-thomas/ |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=More Than Our Childhoods |archive-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304202708/https://www.morethanourchildhoods.org/stories/faith-thomas/ |url-status=live }} She was South Australia's first Indigenous nurse to be employed as a public servant.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eoas.info/biogs/P004111b.htm|title=Thomas, Faith – Biographical entry – Encyclopedia of Australian Science|last=Centre|first=The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research|website=www.eoas.info|language=en-gb|access-date=4 March 2019|archive-date=6 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044347/http://www.eoas.info/biogs/P004111b.htm|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/dec/23/aboriginal-cricket-pioneer-faith-thomas-im-still-the-fastest-woman-bowler-ever|title=Aboriginal cricket pioneer Faith Thomas: 'I'm still the fastest woman bowler ever'|last=Jackson|first=Russell|date=22 December 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=4 March 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=19 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419003422/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/dec/23/aboriginal-cricket-pioneer-faith-thomas-im-still-the-fastest-woman-bowler-ever|url-status=live}} Thomas undertook midwifery training in Adelaide at Queen Victoria Hospital in Adelaide and in 1958 was employed to work at [Raukkan](/source/Raukkan%2C_South_Australia) (known then as Point McLeay [Aboriginal Reserve](/source/Aboriginal_Reserve)). Thomas later went on to become a patrol nurse, spending much time living out of her car while on call.{{Cite web |last=Monga |first=Sidharth |date=25 October 2019 |title=Faith Thomas is the Aussie legend you haven't heard of |url=https://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1204339/faith-thomas-is-the-aussie-legend-you-haven-t-heard-of |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=The Cricket Monthly |archive-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304202708/https://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1204339/faith-thomas-is-the-aussie-legend-you-haven-t-heard-of |url-status=live }} ==Cricket career== After being introduced to cricket by a colleague at Royal Adelaide Hospital, Thomas made an immediate impact for her club side, taking a hat-trick in her second game. She was selected to play for the [South Australia Women's cricket team](/source/South_Australia_Women's_cricket_team) after only three club games.{{Cite web |last=Jolly |first=Laura |date=1 February 2020 |title=Keeping the Faith: How Thomas's legacy is living on |url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/feature/faith-thomas-coulthard-trailblazer-australia-womens-cricket-indigenous-pioneer-ashleigh-gardner/2020-02-01 |archive-date=21 February 2020 |website=Cricket.com.au |access-date=27 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221124217/https://www.cricket.com.au/news/feature/faith-thomas-coulthard-trailblazer-australia-womens-cricket-indigenous-pioneer-ashleigh-gardner/2020-02-01 |url-status=live }} She played for her state side between 1956 and 1958. In 1958 she was selected for the [Australian national team](/source/Australia_women's_cricket_team).{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110442197 |title=Aborigines meet over sport grants |newspaper=[The Canberra Times](/source/The_Canberra_Times) |volume=45 |issue=12,675 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=5 December 1970 |accessdate=9 November 2016 |page=38 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=28 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228042237/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110442197 |url-status=live }} She played her only international match against [England](/source/England_women's_cricket_team), at Melbourne in February 1958.{{cite web | url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/10/10841/10841.html | title=Faith Coulthard | publisher=CricketArchive | accessdate=23 January 2013 | archive-date=5 November 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105041652/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/10/10841/10841.html | url-status=live }}{{Citation | author1=Whimpress, Bernard | title=Few and far between : prejudice and discrimination among Aborigines in Australian first class cricket 1869–1988 | date=1992 | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/192607022 | accessdate=9 November 2016 | archive-date=17 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417021638/https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/192607022 | url-status=live }} She was the first Aboriginal woman to be selected to represent Australia in sport, and until 2019 (following the selection of [Ashleigh Gardner](/source/Ashleigh_Gardner){{cite news |last1=Jolly |first1=Laura |date=18 July 2019 |title=Aussie trio to make their Test cricket debut in Taunton |work=cricket.com.au |publisher=Cricket Australia |url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/toss-teams-australia-england-womens-ashes-test-debut-tayla-vlaeminck-ash-gardner-sophie-molineux/2019-07-18 |accessdate=20 July 2019 |archive-date=20 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720010351/https://www.cricket.com.au/news/toss-teams-australia-england-womens-ashes-test-debut-tayla-vlaeminck-ash-gardner-sophie-molineux/2019-07-18 |url-status=live }}) was the only Indigenous woman to play test cricket for Australia.{{cite web|last1=Booth |first1=Andrea |last2=Briscoe |first2=Luke |title=20 inspiring black women who have changed Australia |url=http://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/nitv-news/article/2015/03/06/20-inspiring-black-women-who-have-changed-australia |website=NITV |access-date=9 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612170929/http://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/nitv-news/article/2015/03/06/20-inspiring-black-women-who-have-changed-australia |archive-date=12 June 2016 }}{{Cite web|url=https://nit.com.au/history-in-the-making-a-fast-bowler-with-raw-pace-and-wicket-taking-ability/|title=History in the making: a fast bowler with raw pace and wicket-taking ability|date=25 September 2018|website=National Indigenous Times|language=en-US|access-date=4 March 2019|archive-date=6 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044440/https://nit.com.au/history-in-the-making-a-fast-bowler-with-raw-pace-and-wicket-taking-ability/|url-status=live}} Thomas was selected in the squad to tour England and New Zealand after her test debut, but turned down the opportunity to focus on her nursing career.{{Cite web |last=Jolly |first=Laura |date=1 February 2020 |title=Keeping the Faith: How Thomas's legacy is living on |url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/feature/faith-thomas-coulthard-trailblazer-australia-womens-cricket-indigenous-pioneer-ashleigh-gardner/2020-02-01 |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=Cricket.com.au |archive-date=10 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310033642/https://www.cricket.com.au/news/feature/faith-thomas-coulthard-trailblazer-australia-womens-cricket-indigenous-pioneer-ashleigh-gardner/2020-02-01 |url-status=live }} Thomas was known for her fast bowling off a run-up of just a few steps.{{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Will |date=22 December 2017 |title=10 legendary Aboriginal cricketers who bowled us over |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/10-legendary-aboriginal-cricketers-who-bowled-us-over/iwp4vxjdn |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=SBS |archive-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304191857/https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/10-legendary-aboriginal-cricketers-who-bowled-us-over/iwp4vxjdn |url-status=live }} She was renowned for her pace and skill of bowling the [yorker](/source/yorker).{{Cite web |date=10 July 2019 |title=Faith Thomas and Mike Whitney handed Queen's Birthday Honours |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/faith-thomas-and-mike-whitney-handed-queen-s-birthday-honours-1188176 |url-status=live |archive-date=4 March 2023 |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=ESPNcricinfo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304191857/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/faith-thomas-and-mike-whitney-handed-queen-s-birthday-honours-1188176 }} Thomas's skill as a fast bowler came from her time in Colebrook where she would throw rocks at [galah](/source/galah)s.{{Cite web |date=9 November 2020 |title=A Test star who chose nursing over cricket |url=https://savesaservices.com.au/Web/News/2020/A_Test_star_who_chose_nursing_over_cricket.aspx |access-date=4 March 2023 |archive-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304193401/https://savesaservices.com.au/Web/News/2020/A_Test_star_who_chose_nursing_over_cricket.aspx |url-status=live }} Thomas played her final club cricket game in the early 1960s. She was eight months pregnant at the time. The [WBBL](/source/Women's_Big_Bash_League) plays an annual Faith Thomas match between the [Adelaide Strikers](/source/Adelaide_Strikers_(WBBL)) and the [Perth Scorchers](/source/Perth_Scorchers_(WBBL)) to honour her achievements in both cricket and nursing. The winner of the match is presented with the Faith Thomas Trophy.{{Cite web |date=12 November 2021 |title=STRIKERS AND SCORCHERS SET TO MEET FOR FAITH THOMAS TROPHY |url=https://www.adelaidestrikers.com.au/news/faith-thomas-match/2021-11-12 |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=Adelaide Strikers |archive-date=5 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205144454/https://www.adelaidestrikers.com.au/news/faith-thomas-match/2021-11-12 |url-status=live }} ==Death== Thomas died on 15 April 2023, at the age of 90.{{Cite news |last=Fontaine |first=Angus |date=17 April 2023 |title=Cricket mourns Aunty Faith Thomas, first Indigenous woman to play Test for Australia |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/apr/17/cricket-mourns-aunty-faith-thomas-first-indigenous-woman-to-play-test-for-australia |access-date=17 April 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=17 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417042552/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/apr/17/cricket-mourns-aunty-faith-thomas-first-indigenous-woman-to-play-test-for-australia |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Faith Thomas, the first Indigenous woman to play cricket for Australia, dies aged 90 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/faith-thomas-the-first-indigenous-woman-to-play-cricket-for-australia-dies-aged-90-1369437 |access-date=17 April 2023 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en |archive-date=17 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417054140/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/faith-thomas-the-first-indigenous-woman-to-play-cricket-for-australia-dies-aged-90-1369437 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Savage |first=Nick |date=17 April 2023 |title='True powerhouse': Australian sporting pioneer Faith Thomas passes away aged 90 |language=en-GB |work=foxsports.com.au |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australian-sporting-pioneer-faith-thomas-passes-away-aged-90/news-story/f76b0a9b5e1ee855e4de3f4347d9d3e4 |access-date=17 April 2023 |issn= |archive-date=17 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417025030/https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australian-sporting-pioneer-faith-thomas-passes-away-aged-90/news-story/f76b0a9b5e1ee855e4de3f4347d9d3e4 |url-status=live }} ==References== {{Reflist}} == Further reading == {{Refbegin}} * {{cite news|last1=Jackson|first1=Russell|title=Aboriginal cricket pioneer Faith Thomas: 'I'm still the fastest woman bowler ever'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/dec/23/aboriginal-cricket-pioneer-faith-thomas-im-still-the-fastest-woman-bowler-ever|accessdate=18 April 2017|work=[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)|date=23 December 2016|archive-date=19 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419003422/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/dec/23/aboriginal-cricket-pioneer-faith-thomas-im-still-the-fastest-woman-bowler-ever|url-status=live}} * {{cite web |last1=Jolly |first1=Laura |title=Keeping the Faith: How Thomas's legacy is living on |url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/feature/faith-thomas-coulthard-trailblazer-australia-womens-cricket-indigenous-pioneer-ashleigh-gardner/2020-02-01 |website=Cricket.com.au |publisher=[Cricket Australia](/source/Cricket_Australia) |accessdate=27 February 2020 |date=1 February 2020 |archive-date=21 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221124217/https://www.cricket.com.au/news/feature/faith-thomas-coulthard-trailblazer-australia-womens-cricket-indigenous-pioneer-ashleigh-gardner/2020-02-01 |url-status=live }} * {{cite journal|last1=Monga|first1=Sidharth|title=Encounter: Faith Thomas is the Aussie legend you haven't heard of|journal=[The Cricket Monthly](/source/The_Cricket_Monthly)|publisher=[ESPNcricinfo](/source/ESPNcricinfo)|date=25 October 2019|url=http://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1204339/faith-thomas-is-the-aussie-legend-you-haven-t-heard-of|accessdate=6 November 2019|archive-date=6 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106075548/http://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1204339/faith-thomas-is-the-aussie-legend-you-haven-t-heard-of|url-status=live}} * {{cite web |last1=Ramsey |first1=Andrew |title=Aunty Faith Thomas: The trailblazer's unlikely journey to Ashes |url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/4188582/faith-thomas-womens-ashes? |website=Cricket.com.au |access-date=20 December 2024 |language=en |date=19 December 2024}} {{Refend}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Faith}} Category:1933 births Category:2023 deaths Category:Indigenous Australian cricketers Category:Australian nurses Category:Australia women Test cricketers Category:South Australia cricketers Category:Australian women's field hockey players Category:Australian women nurses Category:Members of the Order of Australia Category:Sportswomen from South Australia Category:Australian people of German descent Category:Australian Indigenous rights activists Category:Cricketers from South Australia Category:20th-century Australian sportswomen --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Faith Thomas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_Thomas) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_Thomas?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.