Stand Proud

The inspiring story of rugby league star Nicho Hynes, who grew up to find his passion when he found his people.

A beautiful and moving picture book for every young reader who has ever attended a Harmony Day celebration and grappled with questions of identity, family and home.

As a kid, Nicho knows a few things to be true.
Everyone calls him Nicho, instead of 'Nicholas'.
He loves the sport of rugby league.
And he is Aboriginal - but he hasn't always known what that means.
Then one day at school, Nicho sees his friend covered in white paint and practising a special dance.
Nicho asks him to teach him the dance too . . . and that's when everything changes.

This is the inspiring story of rugby league star Nicho Hynes, who grew up to find his passion when he found his people.

Illustrated by Blak Douglas, winner of the Archibald Prize in 2022.

About the Author

Nicho Hynes is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who has won multiple awards. He is a proud Wiradjuri man and takes great pride in representing his Indigenous heritage at all times. Marlee Silva (Author)Marlee Silva is a proud Aboriginal woman from the Gamilaroi and Dunghutti tribes of New South Wales. A passionate presenter and the bestselling author of My Tidda, My Sister- Stories of strength and resilience from Australia's first women, Marlee's career has been inspired by her innate belief that powerful storytelling can change hearts and minds for the better. She also co-hosts the 'When We Grow Up' podcast with NRL star Nicho Hynes, and in her newest role, Marlee is on the sidelines as a reporter with the Nine Network's Wide World of Sports, broadcasting the latest crop of inspiring athletes.

About the Illustrator

Blak Douglas was born Adam Douglas Hill in Blacktown, Western Sydney, to a Dhungutti-German Aboriginal father and Anglo-Irish-Scottish-Australian mother. Trained in illustration and photography, with a B.A. in Graphic Design from the University of Western Sydney, Blak Douglas became a self-taught painter with a career now spanning 25 years.He has exhibited both nationally and abroad, winning the 2019 KILGOUR PRIZE, the 2021 STILL- NATIONAL STILL LIFE AWARD and the 2022 ARCHIBALD PRIZE for his work, and has illustrated several award-winning books for children, including The First Scientists, Finding Our Heart, In My Blood it Runs and Songlines.