The concept of the Richmond Football Club becoming home to the Korin Gamadji Institute was first developed by then CEO Steven Wright and Joe Hockey, who at the time was Australia’s Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.

The seed of an idea was subsequently adopted, and significantly developed, by Hockey’s successor Julia Gillard who formally opened the facility as Prime Minister in 2012. Hockey – a Richmond supporter - now resides in Washington as the Australian Ambassador to the United States. 

Club representatives recently attended the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York to share the KGI’s unique programming and successes. The delegation took the opportunity to head to Washington to update Ambassador Hockey on the KGI’s activities almost a decade on, and to talk about the Tigers on-field success.

Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said many people had contributed to the KGI’s success and it was a great opportunity to acknowledge Ambassador Hockey.

“Many people made significant contributions to the establishment of the KGI and it is important to acknowledge and share the subsequent journey when we get the opportunity,” Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said.

“Joe certainly is one of those contributors and I’m told he was thrilled to hear about the work we have done with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth community and pleased we were able to share it on the world stage.”

Ambassador Hockey and his embassy staff watched the 2017 Grand Final from his Washington offices. By way of thank you for his support on and off the field, the Club presented him with a signed Richmond guernsey as well as a Marn Grook – the game ball of the traditional Indigenous game made of possum skin.