Ladies and gentlemen As the President of the Aboriginal Society of James Cook University, it is my honour to formally acknowledge the hard work of Eddie Mabo and the sacrifices he has made for the fifteen years or so, to achieve the historic annulment of the ‘Terra Nullius’ law by the Supreme Court last week. Although we are greatly saddened to have lost Eddie to cancer five months ago, it is with great pride that we call upon his eldest son, Eddie Jr, to receive this award, on behalf of his father. Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together to welcome Eddie Mabo’s son, Eddie Jr! Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. As Eddie Mabo’s eldest son, I am honoured today to stand before you to receive my father’s award for Outstanding …show more content…
Not only did the stress of the battle contribute to the cancer he suffered in the final months of his life here on earth, but it also exposed what, to me, was his greatest flaw. For you, ladies and gentlemen, to our family, my father may have also been a hero, but in dedicating an entire two decades of his life fighting for his people to be recognised as equals to the non-Indigenous community, he severely neglected his role as father and husband. Indeed, I barely remember him being present at any of our birthdays, or end-of-year concerts or even teaching any of us to read or write or play any games. What I do remember, however, is my mother, who, heavily pregnant for ten years of her life, went to work at a prawn-packing factory to support us, cooked endless meals with the barest of ingredients available with her meagre salary and patiently mended our old hand-me-downs as we faced yet another Christmas without enough money to buy new clothes. I remember how she would beg our neighbour, to keep an eye out for us, just so she make it on time to work, before Dad came home and the day she had a huge fight with dad, leaving with all of us to Aunty Allison’s house, because Dad was again, passionately talking to her about his case, when what she desperately needed was a husband who understood how hard it was for a
Throughout Australian history, there have been men and women who fought for the entitlements of the indigenous people. The most respected and recognised of these is Eddie Mabo, a Torres Strait Islander. Mabo stood up for the rights of his people from a very young age all the way to his death, in order to generate changes in the policies and laws of the government. Mabo battled for his right to own the land which he had inherited from his adoptive father, a fight which was resolved only after his demise. Despite this, Eddie Mabo became one of the key influential figures in the Aboriginal rights movement, as his strong will, determination, and intelligence allowed him to bring about change.
Eddie Mabo’s success at land rights has reshaped and rewrote Australian society and history. Mabo was born a Torres Strait Islander and a member of the Meriam people on Murray (Mer) Island, 1936. He went on to be an Indigenous community leader and human rights activist after marrying Bonita Nehow in 1959 and joining the Torres Strait Islander community, consequently becoming director of the Townsville Black Community School in 1973. Patrick Hatch, reporter for Herald Sun Newspaper 2013, reiterated Mabo’s reaction once told his land on Mer belonged to the Crown and not his family by Professor’s Noel Loos and Henry Reynolds, co-workers from James Cook University where Mabo worked as a gardener in 1974. “Everybody kn...
The term ‘Mabo’’, as described in media reports refers to all the issues concerning the Australian High Court Judgment in the Mabo against Queensland Case. The Mabo decision was named after Eddie Mabo, a Torres Strait islander who regarded the Australian Law on land ownership wrong and challenged the Australian legal system. Eddie Mabo was born on the 29th of June 1936 on Murray Island. Murray Island is between mainland Australia and Papua New Guinea. In his early days of childhood, at the age of 16, Mabo was banished from Murray Island for breaking a customary law and moved to Queensland, where he worked various jobs such as a deck hand and cane cutter. At the age of 23 he married Bonita Nehow and settled in Townsville and had ten children. In Townsville he was a spokesperson for the Torres Strait Islander community and was involved in the Torres Strait islander advancement league. While working as a groundskeeper on James Cook University in 1974, he discovered that his people’s traditional land was actually owned by the government.
Eddie Mabo is widely known for his plight to regain land rights for both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In 1982, along with four other Meriam people from Murray Island, he initiated legal proceedings in the Queensland Supreme Court claiming customary ownership of their lands on Murray Island. This original claim was rejected by the Supreme Court, but rather than backing down Mabo chose to present his case to the High Court of Australia. The basis of his case explores how “’Australia’ is morally illegitimate to the extent that it is founded on European denial of the continent’s prior ownership by indigenous people…” (Rowse, 1994)
...though people believe that, those on the home front have it just as a bad as the soldiers, because they have to deal with the responsibilities of their husbands, there is nothing that can compare to what these men have gone through. The war itself consumed them of their ideology of a happy life, and while some might have entered the war with the hope that they would soon return home, most men came to grips with the fact that they might never make it out alive. The biggest tragedy that follows the war is not the number of deaths and the damages done, it is the broken mindset derives from being at war. These men are all prime examples of the hardships of being out at war and the consequences, ideologies, and lifestyles that develop from it.
Clara Barton’s heroism reached levels of epic proportion during the Civil War. As her father was on his deathbed, he convinced her to go and help wounded soldiers on the battlefield. “He changed me with a dying patriot’s love to serve and sacrifice for my country and its peril and...
Eddie Koiki Mabo played a major role in the Aboriginal Civil Rights Movement during 1962 to 1992. An activist with unyielding drive in the pursuit of equality for Indigenous people, he brought much needed change to Australian society, becoming a champion for civil and human rights in the process. Mabo’s success is particularly evident in his numerous victories for the recognition of native title rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as well as their advancement in Australian society. He did however, achieve much more than just this.
Terra Nullius was once apparent in Australian society, but has now been nullified with the turn of the century. With the political changes in our society, and the apology to Indigenous Australians, society is now witnessing an increase in aboriginals gaining a voice in today’s society. Described by Pat Dodson (2006) as a seminal moment in Australia’s history, Rudd’s apology was expressed in the true spirit of reconciliation opening a new chapter in the history of Australia. Considerable debate has arisen within society as to whether aboriginals have a right to land that is of cultural significance and whether current land owners will be able to keep their land.
It demonstrated just what can be achieved when determined people join together to make the effort to combat injustice. The Mabo case and its legacy were driven by Mabo the activist, his family and fellow plaintiffs, and a key support cast of lawyers, academics and now film-makers. Food for thought as we lead up to a referendum on the constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians.” Professor Joseph says as she ends her
I would first like to extend my gratitude to all who came today to honour this moving, successful and inspiring man, Eddie Koiki Mabo. We all had the privilege to know Eddie for the caring and loving human he was and here we are today commemorating his life and his greatest achievements. He was loved by many and will remain in our hearts forever, because personally what Eddie did this world is unforgettable and undeniably selfless. Eddie was known for a variety of roles such as a son to Annie Mabo and Robert Zezou Sambo, a father to Maria Jessie, Gail, Celuia, Bethal, Ezra, Mal, Eddie Junior, Mario, Wannee, and Malita Mabo, a husband to Bonita Mabo, a nephew to Benny and Maiga Mabo and friend to all, but to me he was my best friend.
Good evening: Rebecca is doing great. Her confidence and self assurance is blossomed. Rebecca is a wonderful women, kind, sweet, and very passionate about helping others. Her self esteem is getting better.
Good Morning sweetheart. I first want to apologize for my actions last night. You're a very frustrating woman, to say the least. I've never met anyone like you with such will and determination. I'm not saying that is a bad thing, it's just not something I am used to.
There are certain times in life when you really need soft, luscious lips that are perfectly proportioned to the rest of your face. This might not be something that your friends and colleagues are going to pay attention to, but it is definitely something the special person in your life will notice. If you are coming up on any of these major life events, your lips deserve some attention: Your wedding Your anniversary
Good evening, sweetheart! (Even though you had already said it…) Happy 2 month! I just wanted to let you know that these past 2 months have been amazing; you have given me a happiness that I’ve never felt before and that you have been the best girlfriend ever. I really do appreciate your patience with me and how you have never given up on me.
Ladies & gentlemen good evening.. For those who don't know me I am Lukasz father. I’ve got to admit, I’m a bit nervous today. Sadly I am not a very practiced speaker – so please bear with me and I’ll keep it short.. I'd like to begin by offering my sincere thanks and appreciation to all those who have worked so hard and long to help put this day together, a day which, I am sure, Ana and Lukasz will cherish for the remainder of their lives together.