Bobby Mcleod Research Paper

Bobby Mcleod was an Aboriginal activist, singer, songwriter, poet, healer and Yuin Elder. He overcame challenges for Aboriginals at the time and fought for their rights, singing to convey his thoughts for many people and publishing a few books of his poetry. Bobby Mcleod inspired hundreds of people from all over the world to strive for greatness and think about the importance of culture, through his books, music and actions.
Born in Waragee, 1947, the oldest of six siblings, Mcleod’s exact birth date is unknown. His father, Arthur, was a labourer, boxer and alcoholic. His mother was a housewife who was active at the local church. The church is where Mcleod first began to sing, in the little church choir of the town. The family moved to Sydney at some stage in Mcleod’s life, and he attended school at Nowra High School, where he topped in sports.
Once leaving high school, in 1963, Mcleod was arrested for assault and robbery, and spent the next five years in prison. Upon his release in 1968, he played rugby for the Redfern All Blacks. His father died in 1974, and Mcleod was arrested for a second time, for reasons unknown. Around the same time that he released his first song, titled ‘Wayward Dreams.’ In 1974, Bobby left Sydney for Canberra.

Mcleod spent a few years living in Canberra, in an Aboriginal Tent Embassy.

The year he moved, at an Aboriginal Rights demonstration, Mcleod became known for ‘arresting’ Francis Herbert Moy, the assistance secretary of the Department of Aboriginal affairs, at gunpoint. Later he himself was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm. He was charged $40 and put on a good behaviour bond but only because the gun was not loaded at the time of his arrest. Later that year, in an interview, Mcleod said: “I would die for my people, I’m not afraid of that.” His actions at the Aboriginal Rights demonstration may have been influenced by his grandfather, who was the first Aboriginal Stipendry

Magistrate.
Mcleod left Canberra for Melbourne to join a music group called ‘The Kooriers.’ According to Mcleod, this group didn’t progress as they drank too much. Due to this obsession with alcohol, Mcleod stopped singing. In 1983, Bobby went into a coma for seven days, which was believed to be alcohol induced. He nearly died and gave up alcohol for good after that. Finally in 1988, Mcleod released his second album, ‘Culture Up Front,’ and it was a success.
During 1990, Mcleod’s band were invited to North America to sing for the jailed Indigenous Americans. His final album, ‘Spirit Mother” was recorded when he returned. In 1991 Mcleod started the Doonooch Aboriginal Healing and Cultural Centre at Wreck Bay. From that came the Doonooch Dance Group, who performed at the Olympic Games in 2000. In 2002, Mcleod co-taught an engineering class on Aboriginal Wisdom and Modern Technology, and in 2005, one of his albums were nominated for Worlds Best Music Album at the ARIA awards. Towards the end of his life, Mcleod wrote his poetry book, Ngudjung Yugarang: Mothers Heartbeat in 2008. He died in 2009, due to old age.
Bobby Mcleod was a remarkable man who affected the lives of many people across the whole of the world. He stood up for his land, his people and his culture and made a difference in the lives of thousands of Aboriginals all across Australia. Whilst successfully completing many ventures, he will always be remembered as one of the people who influenced Australian society for the better.