MS 8822 Papers of Edward Koiki Mabo (1936-1992)
PLEASE NOTE:
Material has been added to this collection since this online finding aid was created. Please contact the Manuscripts Branch for a copy of the revised finding aid. In terms of access, the collection is available for reference with the exception of one folder that has been added to Series 2 (Folder 7), which is closed.
Scope and Content Note
In March 1995 the National Library of Australia purchased the papers of
Edward Koiki Mabo from his widow, Bonita Mabo. Before the papers were
transferred to the Library they had been stored at the Mabo family home in
Townsville.
Edward Koiki Mabo was born in 1936 on the island of Mer, one of the
Murray Islands, which are located at the eastern extremity of Torres Strait. In
June 1992, six months after his death, Mabo achieved national prominence as the
successful principal plaintiff in the landmark High Court ruling on native land
title. The High Court ruling, for the first time, gave legal recognition to the
fact that indigenous land ownership existed in Australia before European
settlement and that, in some cases, this land tenure was not subsequently
extinguished by the Crown.
Lawyers, plaintiffs and Murray Islanders gathered for the land claim
case, Mer, 1989 L-R: Jack Wailu, Greg McIntyre, Father Dave Passi, Eddie
Mabo, Brian Keon Cohen, Bai Day, Dam Passi
Before the land rights case, which lasted over ten years, Mabo had
accumulated over 20 years of experience as an indigenous community leader and
human rights activist. Throughout this period, he and his wife, Bonita, reared
nine children while often experiencing lengthy periods of unemployment. The
Mabo Papers document many of his activities, including his involvement in a
number of family-based business and employment-creation ventures; his
establishment of the Black Community School in Townsville, the first
institution of its kind in Australia; his interest and involvement in
indigenous arts; his involvement in a number of indigenous health, housing and
education related boards, associations and committees; and his support for
Torres Strait Islander independence and self-determination. The Papers include
material on the land claim case, a number of personal documents, job
applications, and some song lyrics. In the later years of his life, Mabo kept
diaries; some of these (1976, 1985-92) are preserved in the Mabo Papers.
When the Library took delivery of the Mabo Papers, they consisted of a
mixture of labelled files and loose papers. Files created and identified by
Mabo have been retained and located in their appropriate series. In some cases,
where papers were clearly misfiled, file contents were rearranged by Library
staff in consultation with the Mabo family. Loose papers have been arranged
into series in thematic and chronological order by Library staff. Readers can
identify files created by Mabo as these have been kept in their original
folders and stored in the Library's numbered acid-free folders.
Included in the Mabo Papers were a number of audiotapes of oral history
interviews conducted with Mabo by Professor Noel Loos of James Cook University.
These tapes have been added to the Library's Oral History
collection.
29 June 1936 - Born on Mer, the son of Robert Zezou
[1] Sambo and Annie Mabo of the Piadaram clan. Because his
mother died in childbirth, he was adopted under customary law by his uncle
Benny Mabo and aunt Maiga. 1953-57 - Worked on various trochus
fishing luggers out of Mer. 1957 - Left Mer and moved to the
mainland. Subsequently worked at various jobs including canecutter and railway
labourer. 1959 - Married Bonita Nehow (born 1943).
1960-61 - Union representative, Townsville-Mount Isa rail construction
project. 1962-67 - Worked for the Townsville Harbour Board.
1962-69 - Secretary, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advancement
League. 1967 - Helped organise seminar in Townsville: 'We the
Australians: What is to Follow the Referendum?' 1967-71 - Worked as
gardener-groundsman, James Cook University. 1970 - Resigned from
the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advancement League because of the
involvement of people he considered to be insincere 'do-gooders'. Became
President of the all-black Council for the Rights of Indigenous People, which
established a legal aid service, a medical service, and the Black Community
School. 1973 - Mabo and family travelled to Thursday Island en route
to Mer with the intention of visiting Mabo's dying father, but were denied
entry to Mer. 1973-83 - Director, Black Community School,
Townsville. 1974-78 - Member of the Aboriginal Arts Council.
1975-80 - President, Yumba Meta Housing Association. 1975-78
- Member, National Aboriginal Education Committee. 1978-81 -
Assistant Vocational Officer, Aboriginal Employment and Training Branch
Commonwealth Employment Service. 1978-79 - Member, Australian
Institute of Aboriginal Studies Education Advisory Committee.
1981-84 - Pursued Diploma of Teaching, Townsville College of Advanced
Education/James Cook University. 1981 - Conference on land rights at
James Cook University. Decision made to take the Murray Islanders' land case to
the High Court. 1982 - Land rights case launched. Plaintiffs were
Mabo, Sam Passi, Father Dave Passi, James Rice and Celuia Mapo Salee.
1985 - Field Officer, QED Townsville Aboriginal Legal Aid Service.
Received a research grant from the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies
to study land tenure in Torres Strait. In an attempt to retrospectively abolish
native land title in Torres Strait, the Queensland Government passed the
Queensland Coast Islands Declaratory Act 1985.
1986-87 - Director, ABIS Community Cooperative Society Ltd,
Townsville. 1986-87 - Assistant Director, Aboriginal Arts, Melbourne
Moomba Festival. 1987-88 - Employed by the Department of Aboriginal
Affairs as Community Arts Liaison Officer, 5th Festival of Pacific Arts,
Townsville. 1987-88 - Vice-Chairman, Magani Malu Kes.
1988 - High Court ruled the Queensland Coast Islands Declaratory Act
1985 contrary to the Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act
1975. 21 Jan. 1992 - Edward Koiki Mabo died in Brisbane.
3 June 1992 - High Court delivered a 6:1 verdict in favour of Mabo,
Mabo v State of Queensland (No. 2) (1992) 175 CLR 1, overturning the
205-year-old legal doctrine of terra nullius. 26 Jan. 1993 -
The Australian announced Eddie Mabo its 1992 Australian of the Year.
Eddie Mabo was Director of the Black Community School, Townsville,
1973-84
- Diaries, 1976, 1985-92
- Employment and personal, 1943, 1959-92
- Business ventures, 1968-91
- Black Community School, Townsville, 1973-84
- Yumba Meta Housing Association, 1973-82
- National Aboriginal Education Committee, 1980-87
- Diploma of Teaching course, Townsville College of Advanced
Education/James Cook University, 1981-84
- Land claim, 1982-92
- Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, 1978-89
- ABIS Community Cooperative Society Ltd, 1985-87
- Murray Island Community Council, 1985-91
- Moomba Festival, 1986-87
- 5th Festival of Pacific Arts, Townsville, 1986-88
- Magani Malu Kes/Torres Strait independence movement, 1991
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, 1989-90
- Other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander related activities,
1981-91
- Printed material, 1978-89
1. DIARIES, 1976, 1985, 1987-89, 1991-92
Volumes
1-2 Two Woods commercial desk diaries for 1976:
Contain occasional entries recording appointments, activities,
addresses and telephone numbers.
3 Collins A4 one-day-to-a-page diary, 1985:
Contains entries in two languages, English and Meriam Mer.
Records details of work for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Corporation for Legal Aid Services and other
activities.
4 Collins three-day-to-a-page diary, 1987:
Contains brief entries recording appointments and daily
activities, including work for the Moomba Festival and the 5th
Festival of Pacific Arts, and visits to Canberra for High Court
sittings.
5 A4 one-day-to-a-page diary, 1988:
Contains a number of detailed entries, particularly during the
period January-March. Describes meetings with the Premier of
Queensland and the Commonwealth Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
(Gerry Hand), visits to Torres Strait and attendance at High
Court sittings.
6 Universal A5 one-page-to-a-day diary, 1989:
Contains entries describing events, activities, domestic life,
visits to Torres Strait and progress on the court case.
7 Upward A4 one-week-to-two-pages diary, 1991:
Contains entries describing activities, domestic life, travel,
health, and progress on the court case.
8 Collins one-day-to-a-page diary, 1992:
Contains six filled pages, dated early January. Written while
Mabo was in Townsville and Brisbane Hospitals with his final
illness. Reflects on life, love for his wife and family, family
inheritances and rights, and wonders whether the High Court
decision will be announced in time for him to hear it.
2. EMPLOYMENT AND PERSONAL, 1943, 1959-60, 1973-74, 1980-92
Folders
1 Miscellaneous personal documents, including copies of birth
certificate, 1943, and marriage certificate, 1959;
photocopies of letters from Mabo's adoptive mother to Bonita
Mabo, 1960; correspondence and telegrams relating to the
denial of permission for Mabo to visit Mer, 1973-74;
handwritten lyrics by Mabo in Meriam Mer and English, 1982;
documents regarding the Mabo family property in Townsville;
four pencil sketches by Mabo of scenes in the Murray
Islands, 1980 and 1986 [two of the sketches are large format
and are located in folio]; and clippings and tributes
written following Mabo's death in 1992.
2 Papers relating to various educational courses pursued by
Mabo, including the Aboriginal Task Force Program, South
Australian Institute of Technology, 1983-84; and a coastal
navigation course at Townsville College of TAFE, 1991.
3-5 Miscellaneous papers relating to Mabo's employment,
including job applications, personal résumés, references and
correspondence, 1980-91.
6 Correspondence and other papers relating to Mabo's 1986
claims to the Defence Department for pay adjustments owed to
his late fathers, Benny Mabo and Zezon Sambo, both of whom
served with the Australian Army in World War II.
Bonita and Eddie Mabo, Brisbane, c. 1990
3. BUSINESS VENTURES, 1968-91
Throughout the last 25 years of his life, Mabo often found it difficult
to hold a steady job. Because of this, and because of a desire to be his own
master, he became involved in a succession of family-based business and
employment-creation ventures. While none of these was particularly successful,
the last, Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd, operated for some four years. The files
in this Series were created by Mabo.
Folders
1 Documents relating to Meriam Cooperative Trading Society,
1968-82, a bêche-de-mer fishing venture incorporated in
1972. Documents include certificate of incorporation,
correspondence, bank statements, rules and membership forms.
2 Documents relating to the United Torres Strait Islanders
Co-operative Trading Society, 1976, including membership
lists and forms, and a financial statement.
3 Papers relating to proposed fishing ventures, 1985-86.
4 Papers relating to the Meriam Trading Company, 1986-89, a
fishing venture incorporated in 1982. Papers include
correspondence with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and
the firm's solicitors, brochures, papers relating to boats
and refrigeration equipment, and documents relating to the
firm's change of name to Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd,
1988-89.
5 Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd (one file):
Statutory documents, 1982-88
6 Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd (two files):
Papers related to barges, boats and freezers, 1986-89
Funding application, Aboriginal Employment Development
Policy, 1987
7 Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd (two files):
Papers relating to funding application, Queensland
Self-Employment Venture Scheme, 1987
Promotional material, budget and cash flow estimates, 1987
8 Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd (two files):
Funding submissions and budgets, 1987
Papers relating to employees and equipment, 1986-88
9 Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd (two files):
Membership register, 1988
Market outlets for cray takes, 1988
10 Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd (one file):
Papers relating to the thatched village project, and food
catering for the 5th Festival of Pacific Arts, 1988
11 Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd (one file):
Miscellaneous loose papers, 1988-91, including
correspondence, budgets, funding and loan applications, and
projects
12 Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd (one file):
Correspondence and other papers relating to boats and
equipment, catch estimates and project proposals, 1988-89
13 Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd (one file):
Funding submission to Aboriginal Development Commission for
trochus shell and crayfishing projects, 1989
14 Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd (two files):
Papers relating to proposed Building and Construction Unit,
1987
Loan application for freezing plant on Mer, draft budgets
and cash flow predictions, c.1988
15 Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd (two files):
Draft funding submissions and cash flow predictions, 1989
Application for trochus fishing licence, 1986, and papers
relating to other marine projects
N.B. See also Series 13 Folder 10 for papers
relating to the involvement of Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd in the 5th Festival
of Pacific Arts, 1988.
4. BLACK COMMUNITY SCHOOL, TOWNSVILLE, 1973-84
Mabo was Director of this School, the first of its kind established in
Australia, throughout the ten years of its existence. The School, which was an
independent school funded by the Commonwealth, was forced to close in 1983
because the lease on its site had expired and the School was unable to secure
an alternative site.
Folders
1 Constitution: six roneoed copies, undated.
Carbon copy of Memorandum and Articles of Association, 1976.
2 Correspondence with Queensland Department of Aboriginal and
Island Affairs and Department of Education, 1974-81.
3 National Aboriginal Education Committee: 'Black Community
School Study', 26 folios, 1977.
'Assessment of Achievement Levels of Children Attending the
Black Community School' by Margaret Reynolds, four roneoed
folios, 1976.
4 Applications for teaching positions, 1977-81.
5 Correspondence etc. relating to the acquisition of School
land, 1981.
'What's Going On at the Black Community School? Information
for Parents and Friends' by the students and staff, 12
folios, illustrated, September 1981.
6 Draft proposal by E.K. Mabo for the establishment of the
Magani Institute as parent organisation for the Black
Community School and to act as a centre for the pursuit of
Torres Strait Islander Studies, typescript, 1978.
Correspondence etc. relating to land, funding and other
matters, 1978-81.
7 Correspondence and other papers relating to proposal to
establish a Black Community School on Mer, 1981.
Correspondence and other papers relating to funding,
1981-82.
8 Correspondence and other papers relating to grants and
funding, 1982-83.
9 Survey of opinions on Black Independent Schools, such as the
Black Community School, and other associated matters
including parent survey forms, 1982.
10 Aboriginal Independent Schools Workshop, convened by the
National Aboriginal Education Committee, Darwin, 1982 (draft
report edited by J.R. Budby), including paper by Mabo which
discusses the challenges involved in running the Black
Community School.
Papers relating to Commonwealth Department of Aboriginal
Affairs Area Advisory Committee, 1982-83.
11 Carbon copy of completed Queensland Schools Commission
survey form, 1982.
Papers relating to the Commonwealth Aboriginal Councils and
Associations Act 1976, 1983.
12 Correspondence relating to the School bus, 1983, and various
papers relating to the languages and music of the Torres
Strait.
13 Correspondence and other papers relating to funding and the
closure of the School because of its inability to secure a
site, 1982-84.
14-16 Staff time sheets, 1980-82.
17-18 Wages books (two volumes), 1978-82.
19 Records relating to employees' income tax deductions,
1981-83.
20 Trustees' accounts book, 1976-81.
21 Students' roll book, 1973-76, 1982 (one volume).
22 Accounts, receipts and bank statements, 1979.
23 Miscellaneous financial records and bank statements,
1977-80.
24-25 Accounts paid: invoices and receipts, 1980-81.
26 Petty cash receipts, 1981.
27 Invoices and receipts, 1982-83.
28 Audited financial statements, 1979-83.
Box 9 Cheques and cheque butts, 1976-82.
5. YUMBA META HOUSING ASSOCIATION, 1973-82
This Association acquired houses in Townsville using Commonwealth funds
and was responsible for renting them to black tenants. Mabo was President of
the Association, 1975-80. During the period 1978-80, Mabo's presidency was
contested by a group of disaffected members and evicted tenants who formed a
new Board of Directors.
Folders
1 Articles of Association, 1973.
Financial statements, year ended 30 September 1974.
Contracts for houses, 1974.
2 Minute book for Annual General Meetings and meetings of the
Board of Directors, 1975-78.
3 Loan register, 1976-77.
Annual Financial Report, 30 September 1976.
Cash receipts worksheets, 1975-76.
4 Membership applications, 1975-78.
5 Minutes and financial statements, 1976.
6 Correspondence, financial statements, agendas and membership
forms, 1976-79.
7 Receipt book, 1978-79.
Membership applications, 1979.
8 Directors' reports to shareholders, 1977-78.
Annual General Meeting agenda, 1979.
9 Papers relating to dispute with tenants and associated
eviction orders, 1977-80, including newspaper cuttings,
minutes, notices, letters of termination of membership.
10 Minute book with inserts, 1978-80.
11 Board of Directors, 1979-80, including circulars, and
correspondence with solicitors.
Newspaper cuttings reporting friction between Aborigines and
Torres Strait Islanders within Yumba Meta, together with
newspaper notices relating to the dispute, 1980.
12 Papers relating to membership litigation, including
correspondence with solicitors, 1978-79.
13 Miscellaneous correspondence, 1980-82.
6. NATIONAL ABORIGINAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE, 1980-87
The National Aboriginal Education Committee was set up to provide
advice to the Minister of Education and the Department of Education on
Aboriginal views on the educational needs of Aboriginal people, and to monitor
existing policies and programs. Mabo became involved in this Committee through
his work for the Black Community School, and was a Committee member between
1975 and 1978. Papers from this period do not appear to have survived. This
Series documents Mabo's continued interest in the work of the Committee during
the 1980s.
Folders
1 Proceedings of the Fifth National Aboriginal Education
Conference, 1980 (91 pp.).
Aboriginal and Islander Community Worker Training Program,
'Field Project Reports', Townsville College of Advanced
Education, 1981 (87 pp.).
2 'NAEC Paper on Aboriginal Schools', roneoed, April 1982 (15
pp.).
NAEC Conference report, Perth, July 1982, roneoed (6 pp.).
Draft discussion paper 'Man Power Planning: Preparing
Aboriginal Teachers in Australia for the 1980s' by Vic
Forrest, 1982 (13 pp.).
'Aboriginal Studies: A Response to the Commonwealth
Aboriginal Studies Working Group Report to the Australian
Education Council' by John Lester, December 1982 (41 pp.).
Two issues of Ngali: School of Australian Linguistics
Newsletter, 1982-83.
3 'Strategies for Teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Students in Queensland Schools', Queensland
Department of Education, 1984 (18 folios).
Conference papers from the NAEC/JCU National Conference:
Aborigines and Islanders in Higher Education: The Need for
Institutional Change.
Eddie Mabo at James Cook University, early 1980s
7. DIPLOMA OF TEACHING COURSE, TOWNSVILLE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED
EDUCATION/JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY, 1981-84
In 1982, Townsville College of Advanced Education amalgamated with the
James Cook University of North Queensland. Mabo eventually decided not to
become a teacher because he felt he was unsuited to classroom situations.
Papers relating to other educational activities pursued by Mabo can be found in
Series 2 Folder 2, and Series 12 Folders
2-3.
Folders
1 Administrative papers relating to enrolments, subject
results and grants from the Aboriginal Study Grants Scheme,
1981-84.
Essay: 'Alternative Schools in Australia', 1981.
2-9 Course notes, teaching material and essays (many of which
have a Torres Strait Islander focus and include grades and
tutors' comments), 1981-84.
2 Art, 1981.
Contemporary Australian Society, 1981.
3 Education, 1981-82.
4 Education, 1982.
5 Language Arts, 1982.
6 Music, 1982.
7-8 Mathematics, 1982.
9 Media, 1984.
8. LAND CLAIM, 1982-92
In 1981, at a conference on indigenous land rights in Townsville, a
decision was made to pursue a native land title claim for the people of the
Murray Islands in the High Court of Australia. In 1982, Mabo and four other
Islander plaintiffs instituted proceedings against the State of Queensland,
claiming that their islands had been continuously inhabited and exclusively
possessed by their people who lived in permanent settled communities. They
acknowledged that the British Crown became sovereign of the islands upon
annexation, but claimed continuous enjoyment of their land rights which had not
been validly extinguished by the sovereign through the granting of freehold
title or land leases to others. The Queensland Government attempted to defeat
the claim with the passage of the Queensland Coast Islands Declaratory Act
1985. In 1988, the High Court ruled this Act contrary to the Commonwealth
Racial Discrimination Act 1975. In May 1989, the High Court remitted the
land claim to the Queensland Supreme Court for hearing and determination of all
issues of fact. In November 1990, Justice Moynihan of the Supreme Court
delivered the Court's determination of the issues of fact. The case was argued
for four days before the High Court in May 1991. The final decision was handed
down in favour of Mabo on 3 June 1992. This decision overturned the
204-year-old legal doctrine of terra nullius, which held that the lands
of the Australian continent were 'practically unoccupied' at the time of the
proclamation of British sovereignty.
Further reading
The Mabo Decision, and the Full Text of the Decision in Mabo and
Others v State of Queensland. Commentary by Richard H. Bartlett. Sydney:
Butterworths, 1993.
Mabo, a Judicial Revolution: The Aboriginal Land Rights Decision and
Its Impact on Australian Law. Edited by M.A. Stephenson and Suri Ratnapala.
St. Lucia: University of Queensland Press, 1993.
Mabo Papers. Department of the Parliamentary Library,
Parliamentary Research Service. Subject Series no. 1. Canberra: AGPS, 1994.
Hearings before Justice Moyniham of the Supreme Court of Queensland,
Mer, 1989
Folders
1 Correspondence with solicitor Greg McIntyre, 1982-89.
'Plaintiffs' Statement of Facts Volume 1 with Annexures', 77
pp., spiral bound, 1984.
2 Miscellaneous papers, 1985, including newspaper cuttings;
receipts for Torres Strait Islander contributions to defray
the costs of the court case; handwritten drafts recording
Mabo's reactions to his dispute with Areag Dipoma over the
ownership of land at Sebeg, which Mabo claimed belonged to
his adoptive father, Benny; annotated photocopy from Coe v
Commonwealth (1979) 24 ALR 118 .
3-4 Miscellaneous papers, 1986, including maps of Mer showing
traditional land ownership boundaries; annotated photocopies
from Canadian Federal Court reports; Mabo family genealogies
used in legal debates over Mabo's lineage and inheritance; a
photocopy of an article by Anthony Wilkin, 'Land Tenure and
Inheritance at Mabuiag'; and document entitled 'Current
Report on Mabo and Others vs Queensland and Commonwealth' by
Koiki Mabo, March 1986.
5 Miscellaneous papers, 1987-88, including correspondence with
Murray Island Council; transcripts of court proceedings,
February 1987; newspaper cuttings; applications for
financial assistance with legal costs; copy of Nonie Sharp's
'Faces of Power in the Torres Strait Islands, the 1980s and
the 1930s', a 30-page Australian and New Zealand Association
for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) Congress paper; and
rough working notes.
6 Miscellaneous papers, 1989, including correspondence with
Murray Island Council regarding the Dipoma/Sebeg land
dispute; issue of Torres News, 26 May 1989; newspaper
cuttings; Mabo's notes of the '50th Day', his summary of
hearings before Mr Justice Moynihan on Mer; correspondence
with Yarra Bank films regarding the documentary Land Bilong
Islanders; genealogical notes; and an application for
funding assistance with associated correspondence.
7 Miscellaneous papers, 1990-92, including articles on the
proposed Cape York spaceport; newspaper cuttings; a circular
letter by Mabo's daughter Maleta West, 1992, which
criticises Murray Islanders for not supporting the case
sufficiently; and various tributes to Eddie Mabo written at
the time of his death.
Folio Mounted display notices in English and Meriam Mer, 1985.
These notices, which combine press cuttings and messages
written by Mabo, call on Islanders to support the land
rights case and oppose the actions of the Queensland
Government.
Photocopies of newspaper cuttings, 1988.
9. AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ABORIGINAL STUDIES, 1978-89
Located in Canberra, the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies
(later the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Studies) promotes and supports research into the cultures (both traditional and
contemporary), languages, histories, and contemporary needs of Australia's
indigenous communities. Mabo first became associated with the Institute in 1978
when, as Director of the Black Community School, he was appointed a member of
its Education Advisory Committee.
Folders
1 Papers relating to Mabo's membership of the Institute's
Education Advisory Committee, 1978-79, including minutes,
agendas, grant applications, reports, discussion notes and
conference papers.
2-3 Papers relating to Mabo's membership of the Institute's
Social and Cultural Anthropology Committee, 1984-86,
including circulars, correspondence, minutes and grant
applications, and evaluations.
3 Correspondence regarding Mabo's appointment to the
Institute's History Committee, 1986.
Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
Bill 1989: copy of Bill with Explanatory Memoranda and
Second Reading Speech.
10. ABIS COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD, 1985-87
The ABIS Community Cooperative Society was a Townsville-based
Aboriginal and Islander cooperative housing association. Mabo was a Director of
ABIS, 1986-87.
Folders
1 Miscellaneous papers, 1985-87, including agendas, minutes,
financial statements, Constitution and Rules [1974, amended
1983] and papers concerning allocation of housing.
2 Papers relating to Mabo's dispute with other Board members
concerning housing allocations, and his removal from the
Housing Selection Committee, 1986-87, including
correspondence, minutes, and drafts of letters and memoranda
which outline Mabo's interpretation of the dispute.
11. MURRAY ISLAND COMMUNITY COUNCIL, 1985-91
During the late 1980s, Mabo attempted to gain election to the urray
Island Community Council. However, because he had not lived on Mer since the
late 1950s, his residential status was questioned and it was ruled that he was
not eligible to nominate. Other papers relating to Murray Island Community
Council can be found in Series 2 Folder 1, and
Series 8 Folders 5-6.
Folders
1 Papers relating to Mabo's attempts to gain election to
Murray Island Community Council and the rulings that he was
not eligible to nominate, 1985-91, including correspondence,
election notices, rough notes, and a Supreme Court of
Queensland affidavit by Mabo, 1991.
12. MOOMBA FESTIVAL, 1986-87
During 1986-87, Mabo participated in the Communication and Arts
Management Scheme run by the Aboriginal Training and Cultural Institute.
Through this Scheme he was appointed Assistant Director, Aboriginal Arts for
the Melbourne Moomba Festival. Mabo claimed that his efforts ensured the first
ever Aboriginal involvement in the Moomba Festival.
Folders
1 Correspondence and other papers relating to the Moomba
performances of the Dance Theatre of Fiji, 1986-87.
Papers relating to the Victorian Aboriginal Host Committee
for the Moomba Festival, 1987.
2-3 Papers relating to Mabo's participation in the Communication
and Arts Management Scheme run by the Aboriginal Training
and Cultural Institute, 1987. It was through this Scheme
that Mabo became involved in Moomba. Papers include essays,
assignments, exams and project notes.
13. 5TH FESTIVAL OF PACIFIC ARTS, TOWNSVILLE, 1986-88
The 5th Festival of Pacific Arts, which took place in Townsville in
1988, was the first to be held in Australia. The Festival of Pacific Arts
occurs every four years and is organised under the auspices of the South
Pacific Commission. The 1988 Festival received funding from the Australian
Government through the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Environment. Mabo
was employed by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs as Community Arts Liaison
Officer for the Festival, 1987-88.
Folders
1 'Report on Management Structure and Planning and Budget
Options Prepared for the Department of Arts, Heritage and
the Environment, and the Interim Steering Committee for the
Festival' by Nicholas Clark and Associates, Management
Consultants, April 1986. Spiral bound, 219 folios.
2 Miscellaneous papers, 1986-87, including address book,
correspondence, Advisory Committee minutes, memoranda,
proposed Festival program, grant application to the
Aboriginal Arts Board, press releases and representations
from Magani Malu Kes calling inter alia for the sacking of
the Festival Director and the appointment of Eddie Mabo in
his place.
3 Letter to Mabo from Barry Cohen, Minister for Arts, 27 April
1987, appointing Mabo to the Board of Directors for the
Festival.
Board papers, April-May 1987, including assessment of the
Nicholas Clark report and photocopies of reports on previous
Festivals.
4 Board papers, May-June 1987, including agenda papers,
minutes and correspondence.
Members of the 5th Festival of Pacific Arts Board of Directors,
Townsville, 1988
5 Miscellaneous papers, July-October 1987, including Board minutes
and agendas; duty statements and job advertisement for Aboriginal/Islander
Community Arts Liaison Officer position; and photocopies of newspaper
cuttings relating to a dispute between Charles Perkins and the
Minister for Arts, Senator Richardson, over proposed changes to
the membership of the Festival Board.
6 Advisory Committee papers, 1987-88, including minutes, agendas and
correspondence. Craft Village: conditions of contract document.
7 Financial statements by KPMG Hungerfords Accountants, 1987-88.
8 Board papers, March-May 1988, including agenda papers, minutes,
memoranda, reports and correspondence.
9 Board papers, July-August 1988, including agenda papers, and minutes.
10 Papers relating to the involvement of Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd in
the Festival Craft Village project, 1988, including correspondence,
tender documents and plans of the proposed village.
11 Miscellaneous papers, including Mabo's sketches of his proposed Festival logo.
12 Festival program and other related publications, 1988.
Sketch of proposed logo for the 5th Festival of Pacific Arts, 1988,
drawn by Eddie Mabo (MS 8822/13/11)
14. MAGANI MALU KES/TORRES STRAIT INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT, 1980,
1986-89, 1991
agani Malu Kes is the name for the Torres Strait Islands in the
language of the Torres Strait. The organisation Magani Malu Kes (MMK) was an
organisation for Torres Strait Islanders which Mabo had incorporated as a
public company in 1987. Of major concern to Magani Malu Kes was the way in
which Islander interests appeared to be marginalised by those of mainland
Aborigines when indigenous issues were considered by governments. As a
consequence, Magani Malu Kes advocated Torres Strait Islander independence from
Australia. Mabo was Vice-Chairman of MMK, 1987-88.
Folders
1 Photocopy of letter from Mabo to George Mye of Darnley
Island (1 February 1980) proposing the formation of a Torres
Strait Independence movement headed by a 'Torres United
Party' and a 'Magani Institute'.
Correspondence with Senator Jim Keeffe and two roneoed
papers by Nonie Sharp on the case for Torres Strait
independence, 1980.
Newspaper cuttings relating to Torres Strait independence,
1986.
Draft petition to Gerry Hand regarding the manner in which
the Aboriginal Arts Board and the Australia Council
neglected the interests of Torres Strait Islanders, n.d.
Proposals for establishment of Mer Health Service, a Torres
Strait Travel Agency and a Torres Strait Islanders' Credit
Union, 1986.
Miscellaneous Magani Malu Kes papers, 1987-88.
2 Papers relating to the incorporation of Magani Malu Kes,
1987.
Constitution and by-laws of Netat Urapun Buai (Torres Strait
Islanders Corporation), 1987-88.
Pro-forma letters from MMK State Council to member
organisations, n.d.
3 Minutes, Certificate of Incorporation and petition, 1987.
Copy of letter to Gerry Hand, Minister for Aboriginal
Affairs, October 1987.
4 Miscellaneous papers, 1987-89, including minutes, agendas,
press cuttings, petitions, grant applications, Memorandum of
Association, correspondence with the Island Co-ordinating
Council and a document entitled 'Magani Malu Kes (Qld) State
Council: Background Information and Rationale'.
5 State Council information leaflets and application forms,
1988.
6 Clippings, funding application and working briefs relating
to demands for independence, 1988.
Papers relating to meetings with Queensland Premier Ahern
and the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Gerry Hand,
relating to independence, 1988.
7 Miscellaneous papers, 1988, including correspondence (in
particular with the Island Co-ordinating Council), a
submission to the United Nations Association relating to
independence, papers relating to a dispute with Roland
Cantley, papers of the Torres Strait Independence Working
Party Secretariat and the Annual Report of the Island
Co-ordinating Council.
8 Miscellaneous papers, 1987-89, including bank statements;
correspondence with MMK President, Steve Mam, and others;
clippings and notes of a meeting with Gerry Hand.
Notice of MMK meeting with the Torres Strait Advisory Board
Queensland Representative, Belsa Lowah, September 1991.
15. ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER COMMISSION, 1989-90
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) was
established by Parliament in March 1990 as the Federal Government's principal
agency for administering Aboriginal Affairs. It replaced the Department of
Aboriginal Affairs, which had been in existence since 1972, and the Aboriginal
Development Commission. ATSIC is run by an appointed Chairperson and a Board of
Commissioners who are elected by Aboriginal people from zones around the
country.
Folders
1 Papers relating to the establishment of ATSIC, 1988-90.
ATSIC Townsville Regional Council election tally, November
1990.
2 Copies of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
Bill 1988, 1989, and Second Reading Speech, August 1988, and
June 1989.
Federal Opposition media release and minority report by
Senators Baume and Boswell, 1989, on the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Commission Bill 1988.
16. OTHER ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER RELATED ACTIVITIES,
1981-91
Folders
1 Letter from Billae Laba of Boroko, Papua New Guinea (12 July
1982), with enclosures. Discusses traditional links and
interactions between Papuans and Torres Strait Islanders.
Aboriginal and Islanders Catholic Council Conference,
Toowoomba, 1983. Copies of papers delivered at the
Conference.
Copy of letter to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (22
July 1985) concerning the funding freeze imposed on
community worker John Echong, together with an issue of an
associated newsletter.
2 Letter from Nonie Sharp (4 January 1985) accompanying a copy
of her 'Book of Islanders', a 167-page compilation of oral
traditions from the Torres Strait, which formed Appendix B
of her 'Springs of Originality Among the Torres Strait
Islanders', later published as Stars of Tagai (1993).
3 Various papers relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander legal services in North Queensland, 1982-87,
including reports drafted by Mabo when he worked as a Field
Officer for the Townsville Aboriginal Legal Aid Service,
1985; papers relating to the Royal Commission into
Aboriginal Deaths in Custody; and a workshop training manual
'Criminal Law and the Police', n.d.
4 Miscellaneous papers, 1981-91, including correspondence
regarding Mabo's participation in the 1987 ANZAAS Congress
session, 'Conservation in Aboriginal and Islander
Environments'; objectives of the Townsville Aboriginal and
Islander Action Group, 1987; papers relating to the Kubin
Branch of the Torres Strait Women's Council, 1987; photocopy
of 'Autobiography of Mr Wees Nawia' by Nonie Sharp,
typescript, 1985; meeting notices for the Aboriginal and
Islander Tenants' Association, 1989; papers relating to the
Yalga-binbi Institute for Community Development, 1989; and
the manuscript of a speech given by Mabo to the 1st National
Torres Strait Islander Seminar 'Heritage and Culture: The
Road to Recovery', Brisbane, 1991.
5 Papers relating to the Aboriginal and Islander Health
Service, 1988-89, including correspondence, reports,
membership applications and Memorandum of Association.
6 Papers relating to the Thuringowa Aboriginal and Islander
Community Health Centre, 1989, including rules,
correspondence and submission.
7 Papers relating to a proposal for the incorporation of a
Torres Strait Islanders Corporation for Cultural,
Educational and Welfare Advancement League, 1991.
17. PRINTED MATERIAL, 1978-89
Folders
1 Report of the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Commission,
1978.
Aboriginal and Islander Education: Perspectives and Change,
Proceedings of a Seminar Held at James Cook University,
October 1978.
Two issues of The Palm Islander, 1979.
'Torres Strait Islands, 1879-1979, Theme for an Overview' by
Nonie Sharp (La Trobe Working Papers in Sociology, no. 52,
1980).
2 National Aboriginal Conference Newsletter, June 1981.
Kulinma Kodowokai, newsletter published by the Aboriginal
Development Commission, no. 1, Aug.-Sept. 1982.
The Porter Report: Newsletter from James Porter, Shadow
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, June 1983.
Aboriginal Newsletter: Queensland, August 1983.
Aboriginal Law Bulletin, February 1986.
ADC News, Autumn 1987.
Science and Life in the Tropics, 57th ANZAAS Congress
papers, 1987.
3 Aboriginal Hostels Limited, Annual Report, 1986-87.
Land Rights News, January 1989.
Torres News, 2 September 1988.
4 Report of the Interdepartmental Committee on the Torres
Strait Islands, by Chairman D.J. O'Rourke, Department of
Aboriginal Affairs, August 1988.
5 Five issues of The Aboriginal Child at School, 1988-89.
6 James Cook University of North Queensland, Student Handbook,
1989.
Box Series Folders
1 1 1-7
2 1 8
2 1-6
3 3 1-9
4 3 10-15
5 4 1-8
6 4 9-16
7 4 17-21
8 4 22-28
9 4 Cheque butts
10 5 1-8
11 5 9-13
6 1-3
12 7 1-9
13 8 1-7
14 9-12
15 13 1-7
16 13 8-12
17 14 1-8
13 15 1-2
16 1-7
19 17 1-6
Footnotes:
[1] Documents in Series 2 Folder 6
which refer to Mabo's natural father give various spellings of his given name,
including Zezou, Zazou, Zeson and Sasak. When Eddie Mabo referred to his father
in writing, he used Zezou.
Guide compiled by Adrian Cunningham 1995. |