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
On this day, the Church celebrates the Feast Day of the Assumption of Our Lady when according to our faith, the Holy Mother, “having completed her course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” The Catholic Weekly provides some historical background information here.
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.
“Christ roams through our streets in the person of so many suffering poor, sick, dispossessed and people thrown out of their miserable slums: Christ huddled under bridges, in the person of so many children who lack someone to call father, who have been deprived for many years from a mother’s kiss upon their foreheads...Christ is… Read More »Saint Alberto Hurtado SJ
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
World Humanitarian Day is a time to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world. Find out more here.
St Bernard of Clairvaux is a Doctor of the Church and one of the founders of the Cistercian order. He earned a reputation for being able to settle disputes, and was called to various countries to give advice on affairs of Church and of government. Find out more here.
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)