10 June, 2023
An inspirational video featuring the warriors of Land Rights has been released to mark the 40th anniversary of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (ALRA) being enacted in NSW.
The video features many legends of Land Rights, including Neita Scott, Tiga Bayles, Aggie Coe, William Bates, Dot and Hewitt Whyman, Lynn Trindall, Lyall Munro Jr, Maureen O’Donnell and Gary Williams.
Successful NSWALC programs and sponsorship, such as the River is Life campaign, Roads to Home, Koori Knockout and the Aboriginal Cultural Showcase at the Tamworth Country Music festival, are also featured in the 6-minute clip.
“I urge everyone, especially young people, to watch this inspiring video,” NSWALC Chairperson Cr Danny Chapman said. “Many of our Land Rights legends unfortunately no longer walk with us, but their message is clear and straight from the heart: they fought this battle to secure our land and waterways for the next generations.
“It is particularly poignant that our Land Rights Warriors are celebrated with the theme for this year’s National NAIDOC Week `For Our Elders’,” Cr Chapman said.
Inheriting this profound legacy, now the Land Rights Network in NSW, consisting of 121 Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) and 29,000 members, continues to protect our diverse lands and waterways. Widely regarded as the best land rights system in Australia, the ALRA was passed in the NSW Legislative Council on 30 March, 1983 and was enacted on 10 June, 1983.
A Rock for Land Rights Concert, Black Parliament and various regional events throughout NSW are also planned for later in the year.
(Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that the video contains images and voices of deceased persons)
Media contact: media@alc.org.au