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Paolo Lobosco is of Aboriginal and Italian descent, with strong ties to the Ngarrindjeri people of the Point McLeay Mission, which they call Raukkan. Paolo is a valuable member of his community, particularly through his involvement with cue sports, such as 8-ball, the discipline of pool played with sixteen billiard balls. While he has been imprisoned on three separate occasions, 8-ball has given Paolo the focus and sense of community to move forward on the right path.
“I played 8-ball all my life, but proper competition started in 2016. I started changing my life then,” Paolo said. “I’m all clear now, trying my best, putting one foot forward at a time, taking every day as it comes.”
Paolo began playing at his local football club in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, where he started his own 8-ball team. “I was playing in local knockout competitions at local pubs every Thursday or Friday. Whoever lasted the longest would get the prize money.”
As Paolo found success, he also found a community. “I won a knockout one night and had a random person [named Warren] and his son invite me to play with their team,” he said. “I joined their team and helped them win a grand-final. That was 2017. I became good mates with Warren over the years that followed.”
Paolo hit a setback after returning to prison in 2021. Importantly, he did not lose sight of his goals. “Cue sports has been a big part of me staying focused and staying positive,” he said. “It’s a gentleman's sport too, a real respectable sport. You call your own fouls, you don’t talk between shots to not put the other player off, you always shake your opponent’s hand at the end of a game. You need a clear head as well. You can’t be playing when under any pressure – you just won’t play as good. You need a clear mind and to stay focused. It’s like chess but on a pool table.”
Paolo understands that even with a clear mind and good intentions, things do not always go to plan. After he was released on parole in 2022, Paolo was returned from prison for breaching a location restriction while visiting his mother. “I informed my parole officer I was going to see my mother, and nothing was said. So, I went,” he said. “I hadn’t seen her for a while, plus I took my kids to visit their grandmother. I [later] had the police knock at my door and breach my parole. I ended up doing another twelve weeks waiting for the parole board to let me out again.”
Warren stood by Paolo when it counted most. “After my 2022 release from prison he’d become president of the South-West Metropolitan 8-ball Committee,” Paolo said. “He offered me a position on the committee … we were good mates and he believed my involvement would help me stay structured and have things to do.”
Paolo Lobosco is of Aboriginal and Italian descent, with strong ties to the Ngarrindjeri people of the Point McLeay Mission, which they call Raukkan. Paolo is a valuable member of his community, particularly through his involvement with cue sports, such as 8-ball, the discipline of pool played with sixteen billiard balls. While he has been imprisoned on three separate occasions, 8-ball has given Paolo the focus and sense of community to move forward on the right path.
“I played 8-ball all my life, but proper competition started in 2016. I started changing my life then,” Paolo said. “I’m all clear now, trying my best, putting one foot forward at a time, taking every day as it comes.”
Paolo began playing at his local football club in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, where he started his own 8-ball team. “I was playing in local knockout competitions at local pubs every Thursday or Friday. Whoever lasted the longest would get the prize money.”
As Paolo found success, he also found a community. “I won a knockout one night and had a random person [named Warren] and his son invite me to play with their team,” he said. “I joined their team and helped them win a grand-final. That was 2017. I became good mates with Warren over the years that followed.”
Paolo hit a setback after returning to prison in 2021. Importantly, he did not lose sight of his goals. “Cue sports has been a big part of me staying focused and staying positive,” he said. “It’s a gentleman's sport too, a real respectable sport. You call your own fouls, you don’t talk between shots to not put the other player off, you always shake your opponent’s hand at the end of a game. You need a clear head as well. You can’t be playing when under any pressure – you just won’t play as good. You need a clear mind and to stay focused. It’s like chess but on a pool table.”
Paolo understands that even with a clear mind and good intentions, things do not always go to plan. After he was released on parole in 2022, Paolo was returned from prison for breaching a location restriction while visiting his mother. “I informed my parole officer I was going to see my mother, and nothing was said. So, I went,” he said. “I hadn’t seen her for a while, plus I took my kids to visit their grandmother. I [later] had the police knock at my door and breach my parole. I ended up doing another twelve weeks waiting for the parole board to let me out again.”
Warren stood by Paolo when it counted most. “After my 2022 release from prison he’d become president of the South-West Metropolitan 8-ball Committee,” Paolo said. “He offered me a position on the committee … we were good mates and he believed my involvement would help me stay structured and have things to do.”
As a committee member Paolo has a range of important responsibilities. “I organise and host events, prepare flyers, hold barbecues to raise funds, and organise the people – including from all around Australia,” he said.. “We have an Australian calendar event, where players are welcomed from all Australia. 128 players attended last year’s event. I hope to get more this year.”
Indigenous involvement in 8-ball has been low in South Australia but Paolo hopes to change that. “To be honest, I had never heard of any Indigenous involvement,” Paolo said. “After winning the grand final with a mate’s team, I brought my own team into the competition. My team is called the 8Ball Bruthaz4Life. Any person could be a member, but I strongly encouraged Indigenous. We are now a good part of the 8-ball community in South Australia.”
Paolo has also had the opportunity to represent his culture and heritage on the national stage. “I was [recently] asked to come up with an Aboriginal design for the Australian shirts,” he said. “They usually hold an Indigenous versus Australia event at the Nationals. I think they’ll do that at the Australian Cup International Rules 8-ball tournament … in October in Western Australia. That’ll be my first Indigenous versus Aussie event.”
Building on this design experience, Paolo is now looking to create his own clothing brand. “My brand is Shadezwear Indigelicious,” he explains. “Most players in the 8-ball Community in South Australia know me by the nickname Shadez because I wear my glasses on my forehead when I play. It’s like an omen, I can’t play without them! I thought that would be good to have my business name as Shadezwear. Indigelicious is something I fathomed when I was 16. 24-years ago. It means a good-looking Indigenous person. Delicious and Indigenous!”
While Paolo has found success as a committee member and designer, he remains committed to playing 8-ball and striving for new achievements. “I finished 9th in the Empire Johnny Walker Classic, and 29th from over 350 contestants at the Berri Open in the Riverland,” he explained. “That was a personal best”.
Paolo is currently playing in the IPA World League competition. “It is four events over 1-year. Each event lasts three days, from 9am until, sometimes, 1am the next morning.”
Even in challenging conditions, Paolo seeks to learn and improve with every match. “I faced some tough opponents in the second event. I was beaten by a couple of frames every match. It wasn’t heart wrenching. I still have plenty of potential!” Paolo thanked me for the opportunity to share where he’d come from and what the future could hold, for him or for anyone that can stay on the right path. I think it is Paolo who deserves the credit for sharing his experiences.
As a committee member Paolo has a range of important responsibilities. “I organise and host events, prepare flyers, hold barbecues to raise funds, and organise the people – including from all around Australia,” he said.. “We have an Australian calendar event, where players are welcomed from all Australia. 128 players attended last year’s event. I hope to get more this year.”
Indigenous involvement in 8-ball has been low in South Australia but Paolo hopes to change that. “To be honest, I had never heard of any Indigenous involvement,” Paolo said. “After winning the grand final with a mate’s team, I brought my own team into the competition. My team is called the 8Ball Bruthaz4Life. Any person could be a member, but I strongly encouraged Indigenous. We are now a good part of the 8-ball community in South Australia.”
Paolo has also had the opportunity to represent his culture and heritage on the national stage. “I was [recently] asked to come up with an Aboriginal design for the Australian shirts,” he said. “They usually hold an Indigenous versus Australia event at the Nationals. I think they’ll do that at the Australian Cup International Rules 8-ball tournament … in October in Western Australia. That’ll be my first Indigenous versus Aussie event.”
Building on this design experience, Paolo is now looking to create his own clothing brand. “My brand is Shadezwear Indigelicious,” he explains. “Most players in the 8-ball Community in South Australia know me by the nickname Shadez because I wear my glasses on my forehead when I play. It’s like an omen, I can’t play without them! I thought that would be good to have my business name as Shadezwear. Indigelicious is something I fathomed when I was 16. 24-years ago. It means a good-looking Indigenous person. Delicious and Indigenous!”
While Paolo has found success as a committee member and designer, he remains committed to playing 8-ball and striving for new achievements. “I finished 9th in the Empire Johnny Walker Classic, and 29th from over 350 contestants at the Berri Open in the Riverland,” he explained. “That was a personal best”.
Paolo is currently playing in the IPA World League competition. “It is four events over 1-year. Each event lasts three days, from 9am until, sometimes, 1am the next morning.”
Even in challenging conditions, Paolo seeks to learn and improve with every match. “I faced some tough opponents in the second event. I was beaten by a couple of frames every match. It wasn’t heart wrenching. I still have plenty of potential!” Paolo thanked me for the opportunity to share where he’d come from and what the future could hold, for him or for anyone that can stay on the right path. I think it is Paolo who deserves the credit for sharing his experiences.
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