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Series 4: Black Community School, Townsville, 1973-1984

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.

 

Folder 1 Constitution and Memorandum and Articles of Association, c.1976
Roneoed and carbon copies.
Folder 2 Correspondence with Queensland Department of Aboriginal and Island Affairs and Department of Education, 1974-1981.
Folder 3 National Aboriginal Education Committee papers, 1976-1977
'Black Community School Study' (26 sheets), 1977. 'Assessment of Achievement Levels of Children attending the Black Community School' by Margaret Reynolds (four roneoed sheets), 1976.
Folder 4 Applications for teaching positions, 1977-1981
Folder 5 Correspondence and other papers, 1981
Correspondence and other papers relating to the acquisition of School land, 1981: and a newsletter, 'What's Going On at the Black Community School? Information for Parents and Friends' by the students and staff, 12 sheets, illustrated, September 1981.
Folder 6 Correspondence and other papers, 1978-1981
Includes: a 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; and correspondence and other papers relating to land, funding and other matters.
Folder 7 Correspondence and other papers, 1981-1982
The papers relate to a proposal to establish a Black Community School on Mer, and funding.
Folder 8 Correspondence and other papers relating to grants and funding, 1982-1983
Folder 9 Survey of opinions, 1982
The survey was canvassing opinions on Black Independent Schools such as the Black Community School, and other associated matters, including parent survey forms.
Folder 10 Aboriginal Independent Schools Workshop and other papers, 1982-1983
The Workshop was convened by the National Aboriginal Education Committee in Darwin, 1982. Includes a draft report edited by J.R. Budby containing a paper by Mabo which discusses the challenges involved in running the Black Community School. There are also papers relating to the Commonwealth Department of Aboriginal Affairs Area Advisory Committee, 1982-1983.
Folder 11 Survey form and other papers, 1982-1983
Includes: a carbon copy of a completed Queensland Schools Commission survey form, 1982; and papers relating to the Commonwealth Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976, 1983.
Folder 12 Correspondence and other papers, c.1983
Correspondence relating to the School bus, 1983, and various papers relating to the languages and music of the Torres Strait.
Folder 13 Correspondence and other papers, 1982-1984
The papers relate to funding and the closure of the School because of its inability to secure a site.
Folder 14-16 Staff time sheets, 1980-1982
Folder 17-18 (Folio 3) Wages books (two volumes), 1978-1982
Folder 19 Records relating to employees' income tax deductions, 1981-1983
Folder 20 Trustees' accounts book, 1976-1981
Folder 21 Students' roll book, 1973-1982
Folder 22 Accounts, receipts and bank statements, 1979
Folder 23 Miscellaneous financial records and bank statements, 1977-1980
Folder 24-25 Accounts paid: invoices and receipts, 1980-1981, 1980-1981
Folder 26 Petty cash receipts, 1981
Folder 27 Invoices and receipts, 1982-1983
Folder 28 Audited financial statements, 1979-1983
Folder 29 Cash payment book, 1975
Folder 30 Cash payment book, 1976
Folder 31 Minutes, correspondence, receipts, payments and a booklet on the Black Community School, 1976-1977
Folder 32 Notes, financial papers, letters, leaflets, 1976-1979
Folder 33 Attendance book and lists, 1974-1980
Folder 34 Miscellaneous papers, 1979-1985
Include: a paper by Margaret Reynolds 'Description of an ethnic community school'; and a training program module for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Folder 35 Staff time sheets, 1980-1981
Folder 36 Miscellaneous papers
Includes teaching materials, photographs and a publication, This is the Black Community School.
Folder 37-38 Correspondence, forms, circulars, 1982-1983
Folder 39 Correspondence, financial statements, 1983
Folder 40 Correspondence, financial papers and drafts, 1981-1983
Box 9 Cheques and cheque butts, 1976-1982
Folio 1 Album of project work re Mabo's teaching activities, including some of his artwork
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