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A painting of Fernando (1920s)
Fernando was born in Woolloomooloo in 1864. He was known as lone Aboriginal man and wore overcoat decorated with toy skeletons ever since he had witness the murder of aboriginal man by white peoples and police refused to belive the truth. He travelled alot so he could be educated and bring changes to his people.
people involved: Fernando, Australian Government, murderer and victims of Fernando
theme: Discrimination, determination, homicide, human rights. -
Indegenous Australians' family separation
Under the Australian government and church policies thousands of indigenous families had their children taken away from them because it was assumed that indigenous children raised by white parents' are better treated.
People involved: indigenous families and children, Australian government, church.
Theme: speciation, discrimination, simulation, separation, sad
Message: The event tells us that government did not care about how indigenous parents felt and their culture. -
Australian Aborigines League banner (late 1940s)
This picture of a banner was homemade by Bill Onus and the group of people who promoted the aboriginal rights called 'Australian Aborigine League' in late 1940s or early 1950s and it was used to communicate to people of Australia about Indigenous peoples' rights.
People involved: indigenous and western Australians, Australian Aborigine League, Indigenous rights campaigns.
Themes: hope, passion for change
Message: Banners were tool for communicating to Australians. -
Mary Bennett and Indigenous people rights
The book in the picture was written by Mary Bennett, non-indigenous woman who was also was an activist for Indigenous right.
People involved: Mary Bennett, Indigenous peoples’ rights organisations, women organisations, people of Australia
Theme: Identity and belonging, hope, passion, human rights.
Message: Anyone can support indigenous peoples’ rights if they are passionate about it. -
Albert Namatjira and citizenship (early 1950s)
The man in the picture is Albert Namatjira, famous Indigenous Artist and this photo (left) was taken while he was siging autographs in early 1950s. He was famous for the conflict he had with Australian government about his Australian citizenship. The event showed the inhumanity of Australian law and discrimination against Indegenous people.
People involved: Albert Namatjira, Australian Government.
Theme: Segregation, human right and identity. -
Wharfie's Hook (1950-1960s)
This Wharfies' hook was used by Joe McGinnes during 1950s to 1960s on the wharves at Cairns. McGinnes was an Indigenous Australian waterside worker and the hook symbolized his acceptance as a worker of equal status.
People involved: Joe McGinnes, the workers at McGinnes work site, McGinne's manager.
Theme: harmony, hope, equality
The message is that although he is a indigenous Australian, he was treated equally with other workers. It showed different colored skin does not matter in workplace. -
Dog Tag (1950s to 1960s)
Indigenous people called their exemption certificate 'dog tag' because they had to be carried around all the time if Indigenous person was to be treated as proper 'citizen' during 1950s to 1960s.
People involved: Indigenous Australian, Australian Government, Australian police.
Themes: descrimination, segregation
message: The exemption certificate showed the discrimination of race. -
Indigenous people's institutions (missions)
This picture is part of a house in an institution where Indigenous people were encouraged to live. Many Indigenous people lived in the institutions for much of the 20th century. In institutions, indigenous people were discouraged or forbidden to have cultural activities together. The communicationwith family members out side the institution was forbidden.
people involved: Indigenous people, Australian Government, Churches
Themes: Speciation, indigenous peoples' rights, descrimination, speciation -
Period: to
Australian referendum campagin
In 1967, after ten years of capaigning, a referendum was held to change the Australian Constitution. Two negative references to Aboriginal Australians were removed, giving the Commonwealth the power to legislate for them as a group. This change was seen by many as a recognition of Aboriginal people as full Australian citizens. -
Sir Douglas Ralph
Person in the picture, Sir Douglas Ralph was an Aboriginal Australian from the Yorta Yorta People. He was professional athlete, Churches of Christ pastor and church planter, ceremonial officer. He was the first indigenous Australian to be knighted and also the first Australian to be appointed to vice-regal office, serving as Governmor of South Australia from 1976 to 1977.
People involved: Sir Douglas Ralph
themes: hope
Message: Douglas becoming a Governor showed equal rights in Australia. -
John Moriarty's dressing gown (around 1963)
This dressing gown belongs to John Moriarty from his time spent at St. Francis' house in Adelaide, South Australia, He was an Indigenous person who lived in a mission. he received this coat when he was young (around about 1963) and kept it ever since then. He quoted that he always kept the things that were given to him when he donated the coat to the Australian National Museum.
People involved: John Moriarty.
Theme: Passion
Message: Aboriginal people trseaured what they were givien with. -
First Indigenous people-made Petition to Federal Government
The petition in the picture was presented to the Federal parliament protesting against mining prospect from the indigenous people of Yirrkala in 1963.
People involved: Federal parliament, Yirrkala people (indigenous group).
Themes: disagreement, respectful object, abolishment.
Message: Development of indigenous people’s objection. -
Lingiari and Wave Hill ( Kalkaringi)-1966s
The indigenous man in the picture is called Lingiari, he and his indigenous friends used to work as a stockman in Wave Hill station until the manager refused to pay higher wages.
People involved: Lingiari, Wave Hill station manager, Lingiari’s workmates, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam
Themes: Human rights, courage, determination
Message: the message this picture and story is tell us is that Indigenous people tried hard to be treated equally and to have their traditional land back. -
Sabu Sing and land campaign
A well-known cattleman Sabu Sing and his workers walked off their work at Wave Hill station in the Northern Territory in August 1966 for equal wage with White workers and also to save heir traditional land . This event (more informatioin on 'Sabu Sing and land campagin' timespan).
People involved: Workers at Wave Hill station, Vestey company, Gurindjl people and Australian Government.
Theme: segregation, simulation, human right, identity, survival, hope.
message: injustice must be redressed. -
Period: to
Sabu Sing and land campagin
Sabu Sing a well-known cattleman walked off his job in Wave Hill station in the Northern Territory along with other workers in August 1966 for better income and to save their (Gurindjl people) traditional land. The campaign to save their land went on until 1975 when Wave Hill lease was surrendered. -
Faith Bandler and White golve (during 1967 referndum)
Faith Bandler was a well known Indigenous Activist who incouraged Australian citizens to vote for Indigenous people during 1967 Australian referndum. She worn a pair of white gloves when she appeared in public to respect the white female Australian citizens.
People involved: Faith Bandler, citizens (both White and Aboriginal).
Theme: Respect, Harmony, identity and hope.
Message: If we all respect each other, we can develop the country harmoniously. -
1967 Australian referendum
The Australian's referendum took its place on 27th May 1967, and it was held to change the Australian Constitutions. The main change referendum brought to indigenous Australians was recognition of Aboriginl people as full Australian citizens.
People invovled: Indigenous and White Australians, Australian Government.
Theme: Hope, change, human rights
Message: The referendum told how Australian felt about indigenous Australian and it brought changes to indigenous Australians. -
Seat of Segregation (used until 1970s)
There seats in in the picture is taken from Bownraille Threatre, in Bowraville,New South Wales. Those two different types of chairs, one hard and uncomfortable and other soft cushioned back had different race to sit by as well. It showed the segregation in in Bownvaile until 1970s when the cinema finally closed.
People involved: employee and employer of Bowraville Threatre and the customers.
Theme: segregation and identity,
Messeage: Discrimination also occured at the entertainment areas. -
The didjeridu and the apology ceremony (in 2008)
In 2008, The apology ceremony to indigenous people were held in parliament house. The apology was made on behalf of the Australian government and the apology speech was said by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
People involved: indigenous and white Australian, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Jeremy Donovan.
Theme: Hope, apology, recognisation
Message: Playing Aboriginal traditional instrument in a ceremony showned the respect towards their culture.
