This August 23rd, 2016,
marks the 50th anniversary since
the Wave Hill Station walk off (also known as the Gurindji Strike). This is considered a pivotal moment in Australian history in regards to the civil rights movement for Australian Aboriginal peoples within the broader society. It highlighted the unfair employment conditions and standards experienced by Australian Aboriginal employees and their families, and became one of the first large shifts towards recognition of Australian Aboriginal peoples pre-existing and ongoing land title.
If you're an Australian music fan you may know of this event through the song "
From Little Things, Big Things Grow", sung by famed Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly and co-written with Aboriginal singer songwriter Kev Carmody (
check out the lyrics on the National Museum Australia website). Some prominent figures in this event were the strike leader and a Gurindji man
Vincent Liangiri, and the then Australian Prime Minister
Gough Whitlam.
To learn more borrow and watch:
Ripples from Wave Hill [DVD]
Call Number: 346.940432 RIP
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