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
Perhaps you are familiar with the iconic photograph of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam pouring soil through Vincent Lingiari's hand when leasehold title for Daguragu (known as Wattie Creek) was transferred to the Gurindji people on 16 August 1975? Paul Kelly's song From Little Things Big Things Grow tells the story of the Wave Hill walk… Read More »1975: Return of Wave Hill Station, NT to the Gurindji People
Neville Thomas Bonner (1922–1999) was the first Aboriginal person to serve as a member of the Australian Parliament. He was a Senator for Queensland from 1971 to 1983. Hear him speak bout his life in the video below.
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
Today we remember the humanitarian action of Captain Arne Rinnan and the need to work towards more just and compassionate asylum policy in Australia. In August 2001 a small Indonesian fishing boat carrying asylum seekers became stranded in international waters approximately 140 kilometres from Christmas Island. The 433 asylum seekers were rescued by the Norwegian… Read More »2001: Rescue of 433 asylum seekers by MV Tampa
From 2020 forward, Social Justice Sunday will be celebrated on the last Sunday of August. Previously it was celebrated on the last Sunday in September. A Long Tradition The celebration of Social Justice Sunday is a long tradition in the Catholic Church in Australia. For almost every year since 1940, our bishops have joined together… Read More »Social Justice Sunday