Johnny Patten (also known as Johnny Jarrett) is Aboriginal elder and community leader, a professional bantamweight boxer, and a former rugby league player. Jarrett was also a member of the Stolen Generations. As an infant, he was taken from his parents at Grafton, New South Wales, and placed at Bomaderry Aboriginal Children's Home. Subsequently, Jarrett's father located him, and they absconded to the safety of Barmah in Victoria.

Jarrett was educated in Sydney at schools such as George Street Primary School, Gardener's Road High School, and the Boy's Town (Engadine). At Boy's Town, he was tutored in boxing by George Simpson, Arthur Daly, and former Australian test player (rugby league football) Paddy Maher.

As a promising rugby league player in New South Wales, Jarrett was a representative in 1956 against the touring Maori Team from New Zealand. However, in 1957 Jarrett was forced to retire due to his commitment to professional boxing. In December 1958, Jarrett defeated Dick White at the Sydney Stadium, winning the Australian Bantamweight Title.