Eddie+Mabo_2


 * //__ Eddie Mabo __//**

Eddie Mabo, the man who made a mark on Australia history. He was one of the main people involved in the court case to abolish the terra nullius term and give the land back to the traditional owners. In history this is known as Mabo in Australia.

Before the Mabo case the Torres Strait islands belonged to the crown and Australia was still terra nullius. The islands lived with strict rules made by the island council put in place by the queensland government.

Eddie Koiki Mabo was born in 1936 on the island of Mer, otherwise known as Murray Island. Soon after his birth Eddie’s mother died and he was entrusted to his uncle. Eddie lived with his uncle until the island council exiled him over a teenage prank.

Because of his exile he moved to the mainland and started working on pearling boats. From there he moved to Townsville after his exile period was increased. He worked on railway tracks and became a spokesperson for the Townsville-Mount Isa rail construction project.

In 1959 Mabo married Bonita Neenhow. Together they would raise 10 children.

In 1969 Mabo worked as a gardener for the James cook university. This is where his interest about the land rights of people fully came to light. Mabo started to read books and was especially interested in ones that whites had written about his people. He sat in on lectures. Then in 1981 a lands right conference was being held in which Eddie Mabo was present. There he made a speech and expressed his feelings on how the islands belonged to the Torres Strait islanders**//__.__//** After, a lawyer who attended the conference suggested that Mabo should make a test claim through court. And so the Mabo case truly started.

1973-1978 Eddie Mabo was Director, Black Community School, Townsville.

- Member of the Aboriginal Arts Council. - President, Yumba Meta Housing Association. - Member, National Aboriginal Education Committee.

In 1982 the Mabo case was launched.

Together with David Passi and James Rice he went to the high court with his claim to overturn terra nullius. The battle for the right of land lasted for 10 years but at the end the high court rejected the case. Not willing to give up, he appealed to the high court of Australia. Unfortunately the ten years fighting the court had taken its toll. The strain had exhausted him and he took time out and painted watercolours or worked on his boat.

In 1992 Eddie Mabo died in Brisbane at the age of 56 because of cancer. He died 5 months before the court agreed to his claim and terra nullius was overturned.

Overnight his grave was vandalised. Mabo was reburied on Murray Island. The land he was born on and fought so hard for. The night of his reburial the islanders performed a ritual dance for kings. A dance that had not been seen on the island for 80 years.

1993 26th January Eddie Mabo was voted Australian of the year.

Eddie Koiki Mabo was a remarkable man who fought for what he believed in. Eddie Mabo was truly a hero.

Bibliography

[] - Accessed 7th February – 14th February.

[]

-Accessed 9th February- 15th February

Mabo, Wik, and Native title Authors: Peter Butt, Robert Eagleson and Patricia Lane. Federation press 2001

Due a USB failure the powerpoint was not shown. Sorry! >.<