Mabo day mabo day marks the anniversary of the high court of australias judgement in 1992 in the mabo case. Eddie koiki mabo 19361992 was a meriam man from the island of mer murray island in the torres. Oct 04, 2015 edward koiki mabo 1936 1992 was a meriam man from the island of mer murray island in the torres straits, whose successful legal case, brought in the high court of australia, ensured the recognition of traditional land rights for australian i. Mabo day commemorates eddie koiki mabo and his decadelong effort to make the australian government officially recognise that his people own mer island. Born in 1936, he would be known as man who fought for the first australians and there rights. The mabo decision was named after torres strait islander eddie koiki mabo who led the fight to change land laws to recognise indigenous. Exiled from murray island murray island courts found him. Here, largely in his own words, is the incredible life story of edward koiki mabo, from his childhood on the island of mer through to his struggle within the union cause and the black rights movement as well as the historic high court nativetitle decision, handed down just months after mabo died, which destroyed forever the concept of terra nullius. His mother died giving birth and he was adopted by his uncle, benny mabo.
Mabo day marks the anniversary of the high court of australias judgement in 1992 in the mabo case. It provides for the justification of any past allowances of land that may otherwise have been unacceptable because of the existence of native title. Edward koiki mabo 19361992, torres strait islander community leader and land rights campaigner, was born on 29 june 1936 at las, on mer, in the murray group of islands, queensland, the fourth surviving child of murray islandsborn parents robert zesou sambo, seaman, and his wife annie poipe, nee mabo. However, eddie mabo and his supporters chose another route. Edward koiki mabo 1936 1992 was a meriam man from the island of mer murray island in the torres straits, whose successful legal case, brought in the high court of australia. Google maps contents eddie koiki mabo 1 a life of community leadership 2 mabo. Eddie koiki mabo was born on the murray island, in the torres strait on june 29, 1936. A timeline created with timetoasts interactive timeline maker. Torres strait islander eddie koiki mabo, who is at the time working as a gardener at james cook university in townsville, finds out he does not. Jun 03, 2017 june 3, 2017 marks 25 years since the historic mabo decision, overturning the terra nullius fiction, paving the way for native title land rights, and it all started with one man eddie koiki. Eddie koiki mabo why should eddie mabo be in the hall of heroes. As we celebrate the courage and the achievements of eddie.
Company has been renowned for years as a reliable and trustworthy business partner. She was an australian south sea islander of nivanuatu descent whose ancestors were blackbirded to work in the sugar cane. His surname was changed from sambo to mabo and from an early age, koiki was taught about his familys land. In recognising the traditional rights of the meriam people to their islands in the eastern torres strait, the court also held that native title existed for all indigenous people in australia prior to cooks instructions and the establishment of the british colony of new south wales. Eddie mabo is the first plaintiff in a group action. Bonita mabo was born in halifax, queensland, one of 10 children. Priceless eddie mabo self portrait held at aiatsis abc. Mabo 2012 biography, drama australia mabo tells the story of one of australias national heroes eddie koiki mabo, the torres strait islander who left school at age 15, yet spearheaded the high court. Jun 04, 2017 australian journalist jeff mcmullen delivered the following speech to 25th anniversary mabo celebration in townsville tonight. Mastering two cultures a personal perspective noel loos edward koiki mabo was a meriam man from one of the most remote islands in the torres strait, murray island he decide. Koiki eddie mabo 193792, then living in townsville, spoke at the conference about land rights in the torres strait.
Benny mabo, eddies uncle, and his wife, maiga, adopted the baby and his name was changed to eddie koiki mabo. It covers his years as a boy on the island of mer through to his struggle within the union cause and the black rights movment. Timelineevents that led to the 1967 referendum national library. Mabo was exiled from the island when he was 16, and worked across northern queensland and the torres strait. Here, largely in his own words, is the incredible life story of edward koiki mabo, from his childhood on the island of mer through to his struggle within the union cause and the black rights movement as well as. Mabo e01 sound recordings collected by eddie koiki mabo, 1975. As we celebrate the courage and the achievements of eddie koiki mabo we all walk in his determined footsteps in our hope for a brighter future. Eddie mabo, a townsville citizen from mur murray island, launched a lands rights claim for his people for. Eddie koiki mabo he was a fighter for equal rights, a rebel, a freethinker, a restless spirit, a reformer who saw far into the future and far into the past. Eddie koiki mabo left and jack wailu on the torres strait island of mer. Mau powers latest track koiki honours the mabo legacy. Eddie koiki mabo was shocked to discover that the ownership of land his ancestors passed.
Twentyfive years ago on 3 june 1992, the high court handed down its judgement in the mabo case. Koiki mabo and his fellow plaintiffs that murray islanders were the traditional owners of land on the island of mer in the torres strait. This meant that benny could pass on his land to eddie when he died. Eddie koiki mabo australian institute of aboriginal and. On 3 june 1992, the high court of australia acknowledged that mabo and his people had traditional land ownership agreements and that it was up to the people of mer island to determine who owned. Mabo is the story of how one man fought the system and won, how one man affected the lives of all his people. Mabo v queensland no 2 commonly known as mabo was a landmark high court of australia decision in 1992 recognising native title in australia for the first time. However, it wasnt until 1992, in the mabo judgment, that the high court of australia determined that indigenous peoples rights over their lands did survive colonisation. I would not be inclined to act on his evidence on a matter bearing his selfinterest justice moynihan if i appeal its about eddie mabos land. The mabo decision in the high court was the culmination of a legal battle started ten years earlier by a group of plaintiffs from the tiny torres strait island of mer to establish their. He became well known for campaigning for indigenous land rights.
Foundations of the legal system, 2nd ed, melbourne, oxford university press, 2009, pp. Eddie koiki mabo was born on 29 june, 1936, on the island of mer murray island in the torres strait. As a torres strait islander who campaigned for indigenous land rights, eddie koiki mabos work led to an important decision by the high court. Prime minister paul keating launched a program of reconciliation and a. I would not be inclined to act on his evidence on a matter bearing his selfinterest. Edward koiki mabo 19361992, torres strait islander community leader and land rights campaigner, was born on 29 june 1936 at las, on mer, in the murray group of islands, queensland, the.
Eddie mabo s contribution to australia, and what he did to benefit the country. Eddie koiki mabo was shocked to discover that the ownership of land his ancestors passed down on murray island in the torres strait islands for over 15 generations was not legally recognized. Eddie koiki mabo timeline jcu australia james cook university. Edward koiki mabo was born on mer murray island in 1936. The high court held that the doctrine of terra nullius, which imported all laws of england to a new land, did not apply in circumstances where there were already inhabitants present even if those inhabitants had been regarded at. Papers and discussion from the conference were published in e. Eddie koiki mabos name is synonymous with native title rights.
Eddie koiki mabo grew up on the island of his forefathers, mer or murray island in the torres strait. Mabo life of an island man is the story of a small island and an extraordinary man. Education program at the townsville college of advanced education later. Eddie koiki mabo 19361992 was a meriam man from the island of mer murray island in the torres strait. Eddie mabo and other torres strait islanders challenge the constitutional validity of the queensland coast island declaratory act. This is a day of particular significance for torres strait islander. Eddie mabo mad it possible for legislation to be passed native title act as shown in source 2 which today. She was the wife of eddie mabo until his death in 1992. Its history dates back to 1967 and it shows, how a small. National archives of australiaaap april 26, 2017 australian politics explainer.
The judgments of the high court in the mabo case inserted the legal doctrine of native title into australian law. The mabo family asked me to paint you a picture of how australiamore. Eddie koiki mabo was born on murray island in the torres strait, but lived most of his life in exile. Here for the first time is the life story of edward koiki mabo, told largely in his own words. Gail mabo, daughter of eddie mado, is a special guest at the dvd.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of mabo day the nfsa creates a special dvd for our black screen program to lend to communities around australia. In particular, he became famous for his role in an historic decision by the high court of australia in 1992, which overturned the idea that australia was. His name has become synonymous with aboriginal and torres strait islander land rights because he was a key plantiff in the mabo case. Mabo news, research and analysis the conversation page 1. They bypassed state and federal governments, and went straight to the high court of australia. The high court finalized the case by overturning terra nullius doctrine on june 3, 1992. Online only issued 23 may 2002 coral dow, informationelinks social policy group.
He was a meriam man and grew up on mer, part of the murray island group in the torres. Biography edward koiki eddie mabo indigenous australia. Students will construct a biography on eddie koiki mabo or another significant aboriginal or torres strait islander individual that has helped shaped australias history. Mabo familythe children of eddie and bonita mabo are eddie jnr, maria jessie, bethel, gail, mal, malita, celuia, mario, wannee and ezra eddie maboleading plaintiff in the mabo legal case father dave passiplaintiff in the mabo legal case sam passiwitness in the mabo legal case james riceplaintiff in the mabo legal case. This is a day of particular significance for torres strait islander australians. Eddie mabos birth eddie mabo was born on the 29th of june 1936, he was born on the island of mer in the torres strait. Bryan a keoncohen island of mer murray torres straits.
June 3, 2017 marks 25 years since the historic mabo decision, overturning the terra nullius fiction, paving the way for native title land rights, and it all started with one man eddie koiki. Eddie mabos contribution to australia, and what he did to benefit the country. Through the long ten years of eddie fighting for the land rights and the legal definition of. On 20 may 1982, eddie koiki mabo, sam passi, david passi, celuia mapo salee and james rice began their legal claim for ownership of their lands on the island of mer in the torres strait between australia. Australian journalist jeff mcmullen delivered the following speech to 25th anniversary mabo celebration in townsville tonight. The mabo decision in the high court 80 days that changed. Unscramble the dates and descriptions and create your own timeline.
Mabo 2012 biography, drama australia mabo tells the story of one of australias national heroes eddie koiki mabo, the torres strait islander who left school at age 15, yet spearheaded the high court challenge that overthrew the fiction of terra nullius. Theyve tried direct resistance, street campaigns, political lobbying, industrial action. Eddie mabo was born on the 29th of june 1936, he was born on the island of mer in the torres strait. Edward koiki mabo, a meriam man from the island of mer murray island in the torres straits, was a key plaintiff in a land rights case in the high court of australia, today referred to as the mabo case. Canberra, high court decision, 03061992, mabo case, mabo judgement, mason, chief justice anthony, native title act 1993. Mau powers latest track koiki honours the mabo legacy nitv. Koiki i also thought about how my wife the most important person in my life has stuck to me over many hardships and hurdles, but somehow we made it. It covers his years as a boy on the island of mer through to his struggle within the union cause and the black rights.
Mabothe native title revolutiondelves into the mabo legal case. Mabo e01 sound recordings collected by eddie koiki mabo. Eddie mabo, in my view, is quite capable of tailoring his story to whatever shape he perceives will advance his cause. Five things you should know about the mabo decision the. There are two sections referring to the aboriginal people that marginalises.
Born on the australian island of mer in 1936, edward koiki mabo was an energetic campaigner for the rights of indigenous people and their claim to the lands declared terra nullius, or belonging to. Born on the australian island of mer in 1936, edward koiki mabo was an energetic campaigner for the rights of indigenous people and their claim to the lands declared terra nullius, or. Eddie mabo was born when he was born, his mother died. Edward koiki mabo 19361992, torres strait islander community leader and. Jul 10, 2019 eddie koiki mabo left and jack wailu on the torres strait island of mer. Engage your students during remote learning with video readalouds. Under torres strait islander law, benny mabo was now eddies father. Eddie koiki mabo was a torres strait islander who believed australian laws on land ownership were wrong and fought to. One of the attendees of the conference was a lawyer who suggested mabo to have a test case related to the land.
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