This Saturday marks the fortieth anniversary of a violent confrontation in Darwin that made international headlines and became a turning point in demands for Aboriginal land rights in the Northern Territory. On July 6, 2013, Aboriginal campers living on vacant land in Coconut Grove marched out in single file behind their flag to defend the land claim they called Kulaluk against developers preparing roadworks on the nearby Ostermann Street subdivision. Amongst the protesters was a nuggetty ex-boxer, Fred Fogarty, with dog chains wrapped around his ham-sized fists, a travel bag of Molotov cocktails slung over his shoulder, and wearing a tin helmet with the words “Look Out” neatly printed on the crown. In the ensuing fracas, a surveyor’s truck was burnt and three of the Aborigines arrested, including Larrakia leader, Bobby Secretary and the firebomb thrower, Fred Fogarty. Fogarty was later sentenced to six months in Fannie Bay Gaol, after a spirited trial defended by Frank Galbally QC. The significance of the clash and the media attention it brought was not lost on either PM Gough Whitlam and his Cabinet or the Aboriginal Land Rights Commissioner, then writing his final report on which the NT Land Rights Act was based. As a result, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bryant’s legal advisor, Gareth Evans, was sent to Darwin to investigate and his report laid the foundation for the 301 Kulaluk lease as it exists to this day. Fogarty was released when the prison was destroyed in Cyclone Tracy. He then built a hut on the land claim beside Ludmilla Creek and lived there until his death in 1985. Surprisingly, few histories of land rights mention this significant event, or acknowledged its place in the eventual recognition of Aboriginal land rights and the struggle to achieve it.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 09:24:14 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015