Series 3:
Business ventures, 1969-1991
Throughout the last 25 years of his life, Mabo often found it difficult to maintain long-term employment. 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. 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.
|
| Folder 1
|
Documents relating to Meriam Cooperative Trading Society, 1968-1982 This was a beche-de-mer fishing venture incorporated in 1972. Documents include certificate of incorporation, correspondence, bank statements, rules and membership forms.
|
| Folder 2
|
Documents relating to the United Torres Strait Islanders Co-operative Trading Society, 1976 Include membership lists and forms, and a financial statement.
|
| Folder 3
|
Papers relating to proposed fishing ventures, 1985-1986 |
| Folder 4
|
Papers relating to the Meriam Trading Company, 1986-1989 This was 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, 1988-1989.
|
| Folder 5
|
Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd statutory documents, 1982-1988 |
| Folder 6
|
Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd, 1986-1989 Papers related to barges, boats and freezers and a funding application, Aboriginal Employment Development Policy, 1987.
|
| Folder 7
|
Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd, 1987 Papers relating to a funding application for the Queensland Self-Employment Venture Scheme, promotional material, a budget and cash flow estimates.
|
| Folder 8
|
Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd , 1986-1988 Funding submissions and budgets, 1987, and papers relating to employees and equipment.
|
| Folder 9
|
Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd, 1988 Membership register and market outlets for cray takes.
|
| Folder 10
|
Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd, 1988 Papers relating to the thatched village project, and food catering for the 5th Festival of Pacific Arts. 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.
|
| Folder 11
|
Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd, 1988-1991 Miscellaneous loose papers, including correspondence, budgets, funding and loan applications, and projects.
|
| Folder 12
|
Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd, 1988-1989 Correspondence and other papers relating to boats and equipment, catch estimates and project proposals.
|
| Folder 13
|
Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd, 1989 Funding submission to the Aboriginal Development Commission for trochus shell and crayfishing projects.
|
| Folder 14
|
Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd, c.1987-1988 Papers relating to a proposed Building and Construction Unit, 1987. Loan application for a freezing plant on Mer, draft budgets and cash flow predictions, c.1988.
|
| Folder 15
|
Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd, 1986, 1989 Draft funding submissions and cash flow predictions, 1989; an application for a trochus fishing licence, 1986; and papers relating to other marine projects.
|
| Folder 16
|
Meriam Enterprises Pty Ltd Flyers, circulars, draft letters, a budget and cash flow predictions.
|
| Folder 17
|
Meriam Trading Company Ltd, 1983-1987 Rules, correspondence 1983-1987, and a grant application.
|
| Folder 18
|
Meriam Trading Company Ltd, 1986 Draft goals, notes and a report of a visit to Mer Island.
|