The inspirational friendship between four prominent Australians and their love of basketball will be explored through a TV documentary currently in production at Murdoch.

Andrew Vlahov and Luc Longley’s fathers started a basketball team for young Aborigines and Ernie Dingo and Richard Walley were star recruits on the team.

As teenagers, Ernie Dingo and Richard Walley put the younger boys Andrew Vlahov and Luc Longley through some of their first paces on the basketball court.

The group remained very close friends despite moving in very different directions over the years – Dingo is now an entertainer and television personality, Walley is a renowned musician while Longley and Vlahov have very successful careers in professional basketball.

Narrated by Dingo, the program interweaves the life stories of the four friends, showing young people how dreams can be realised through hard work and determination.

Murdoch University’s Media Lecturer Dr Martin Mhando, who is mentoring Richard Walley through the documentary’s production, said the program demonstrates how sport can help break down racial boundaries.

“The program portrays the four as role models for young Australians, particularly in Aboriginal and migrant communities,” he said.

“The aim of the documentary is demonstrate to young people that you don’t get great careers by wishing alone – you have to work hard.”

The documentary is supported by the Office of Citizenship and Multicultural Interests, and will be used as a training and education tool for young people.