contemporary Aborigines who at times will want to sell, mortgage and lease some lands so that they might enjoy the benefits of their overall land holdings. Once again the challenge is finding how best to ensure equality, non-discrimination and agreement. Last week, the Aborigines at Yirrkala held ceremonies commemorating the 50th anniversary of the bark petitions presented to the Australian Parliament on 14 August 1963. Back in November 1935, the Reverend Wilbur Chaseling, a Methodist Missionary arrived at Yirrkala with his family and fellow missionaries. They were the first Europeans to settle in that part of the world. In the early 1960s, a foreign corporation wanted to come and mine the Aboriginal lands there at Yirrkala. The missionaries worked closely with the Aboriginal leaders deciding to petition the Australian parliament asking to be consulted before there was any invasion or interference with their hunting and traditional places. In a graceful understatement, they told the people of this area fear that their needs and Parliament, ‘That interests will be completely ignored as they have been ignored in the past, and they fear that the fate which has overtaken the Larrakeah tribe will The Larrakeah overtake them.’ were the traditional owners of Darwin and the elders from Yirrkala had seen the social devastation caused the Larrakeah people living as long grasses on the outskirts of Darwin. Eventually the people were heard. They lost their case before Sir Richard Blackburn in 1971. Thanks to Eddie Mabo, we have now been provided with a surer legal foundation for extending equality, non-discrimination and agreement to all Australians, including our First Peoples. oration provides pointers for the ongoing dialogue we need to complete Today’s the do it together in the same spirit displayed by those who met on the shore at task. Let’s Urangan 150 years ago.
contemporary Aborigines who at times will want to sell, mortgage and lease some lands so that they might enjoy the benefits of their overall land holdings. Once again the challenge is finding how best to ensure equality, non-discrimination and agreement. Last week, the Aborigines at Yirrkala held ceremonies commemorating the 50th anniversary of the bark petitions presented to the Australian Parliament on 14 August 1963. Back in November 1935, the Reverend Wilbur Chaseling, a Methodist Missionary arrived at Yirrkala with his family and fellow missionaries. They were the first Europeans to settle in that part of the world. In the early 1960s, a foreign corporation wanted to come and mine the Aboriginal lands there at Yirrkala. The missionaries worked closely with the Aboriginal leaders deciding to petition the Australian parliament asking to be consulted before there was any invasion or interference with their hunting and traditional places. In a graceful understatement, they told Parliament, ‘That the people of this area fear that their needs and interests will be completely ignored as they have been ignored in the past, and they fear that the fate which has overtaken the Larrakeah tribe will overtake them.’ The Larrakeah were the traditional owners of Darwin and the elders from Yirrkala had seen the social devastation caused the Larrakeah people living as long grasses on the outskirts of Darwin. Eventually the people were heard. They lost their case before Sir Richard Blackburn in 1971. Thanks to Eddie Mabo, we have now been provided with a surer legal foundation for extending equality, non-discrimination and agreement to all Australians, including our First Peoples. Today’s oration provides pointers for the ongoing dialogue we need to complete the task. Let’s do it together in the same spirit displayed by those who met on the shore at Urangan 150 years ago.