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The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies explains that "the Yirrkala Bark petitions of August 1963 were sent to the Parliament by members of the clan groups living in the area of Yirrkala. Written in both Yolngu Matha and English, and presented on painted bark boards depicting country, the petitions protest the… Read More »1963: Bark petition from Yirrkala presented to Parliament

The Victorian Government website explains that William Barak "is closely associated with Coranderrk, the Aboriginal settlement established near Healesville in 1863. He campaigned for its creation, contributed to its early success as a thriving, self-sufficient community, and was its indefatigable defender until the end of his life. He saw Coranderrk as a way for the… Read More »1903: Death of William Barak, Aboriginal leader and co-founder of the Coranderrk Settlement, Victoria

On this day in 1978 the Tiwi Land Council was established under the Commonwealth Land Rights Act. This is how the Council describes its vision: "Our vision is of an independent and resilient Tiwi society built on the orderly and well managed utilization of our natural and human resources through reliance upon our own management,… Read More »1978: Tiwi Land Council established

At the Federal election of 1943, Enid Lyons (united Australia Party) and Dorothy Tangney (Australian Labour Party) became the first women to be elected to the Australian parliament. A video from the National Museum of Australia on this page tells their story. Today much remains to be done to counter ongoing resistance to hearing women's… Read More »1943: Election of the first women members of the Australian Parliament: Enid Lyons (House of Representatives) and Dorothy Tangney (Senate)

Margaret (Lilardia) Tucker (1904 - 1996) was one of Australia's earliest and most notable Aboriginal activists. The Indigenous Australia website explains: "Her Aboriginal name, Lilardia, means flower but she was known affectionately to black and white alike as 'Auntie Marge'. She was born at Warrangasda, an Aboriginal reserve near Darlington Point on the Murrumbidgee River… Read More »1996: Death of Margaret Tucker, Indigenous Australian activist and writer

On this day in 1966 the Gurindji walked off Wave Hill Station. What began as a strike over the refusal of Vestey Brothers to pay Aboriginal workers was to become a pivotal event in the struggle for the legal recognition of Aboriginal land rights. As the National Museum of Australia explains: "The Gurindji strike was… Read More »1966: Gurindji strike or Wave Hill Walk-off, beginning the longest strike in Australian history

Action Does your parish, school or Catholic organisation have a Reconciliation Action Plan? Today might be a good day to check on your progress, or to start the process of developing a Reconciliation Action Plan. What is Reconciliation? ANTaR describe reconciliation as "a process where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, non-Indigenous Australians and Australian… Read More »1991: Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Act passed by Parliament