Commemorating 50 Years since the Wave Hill Walk Off

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Commemorating 50 Years since the Wave Hill Walk Off

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Published: 09 June 2016

Topics: Unions and Workers; Indigenous affairs

The Gurindji Strike (or Wave Hill Walk-off) was one of Australia's most protracted and significant industrial disputes.

40 years ago, Gurindji stockmen and their families fought for decent pay and conditions on Wave Hill Station, leading to a national movement for fair wages for Indigenous Australians. The strike grew into a fight for land rights, culminating in the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, and Gough Whitlam's famous land handback to Vincent Lingiari.

We are proud to be joined by Kevin Tory and Celeste Liddle to remember this important historic event. Kevin Tory is a long time Indigenous rights and union activist who was involved first hand in the MUA effort to support the Wave Hill Strikers.

Celeste is an Arrernte Australian woman living in Melbourne. She is the current National Indigenous Organiser for the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU). Celeste blogs personally at Rantings of an Aboriginal Feminist as well as contributing articles to the Guardian Australia and New Matilda.

Their insights into the Gurindji Strike and the events that followed will surely be something of immense value.