The judgments of the high court in the mabo case inserted the legal doctrine of native title into australian law. 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. Eddie mabo was born on the 29th of june 1936, he was born on the island of mer in the torres strait. The mabo decision in the high court 80 days that changed. 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. Eddie koiki mabo timeline jcu australia james cook university. 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. The mabo family asked me to paint you a picture of how australiamore. Under torres strait islander law, benny mabo was now eddies father. Eddie koiki mabo was shocked to discover that the ownership of land his ancestors passed.
Eddie mabo, a townsville citizen from mur murray island, launched a lands rights claim for his people for. Eddie koiki mabo 19361992 was a meriam man from the island of mer murray island in the torres. Students will construct a biography on eddie koiki mabo or another significant aboriginal or torres strait islander individual that has helped shaped australias history. Papers and discussion from the conference were published in e. Eddie mabo and other torres strait islanders challenge the constitutional validity of the queensland coast island declaratory act. Education program at the townsville college of advanced education later. 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. This is a day of particular significance for torres strait islander australians. Jul 10, 2019 eddie koiki mabo left and jack wailu on the torres strait island of mer. Foundations of the legal system, 2nd ed, melbourne, oxford university press, 2009, pp. Mabo e01 sound recordings collected by eddie koiki mabo, 1975. Canberra, high court decision, 03061992, mabo case, mabo judgement, mason, chief justice anthony, native title act 1993. 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.
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. Unscramble the dates and descriptions and create your own timeline. Timelineevents that led to the 1967 referendum national library. 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. Koiki mabo and his fellow plaintiffs that murray islanders were the traditional owners of land on the island of mer in the torres strait. His name has become synonymous with aboriginal and torres strait islander land rights because he was a key plantiff in the mabo case. Its history dates back to 1967 and it shows, how a small. Gail mabo, daughter of eddie mado, is a special guest at the dvd.
A timeline created with timetoasts interactive timeline maker. 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. Engage your students during remote learning with video readalouds. Bonita mabo was born in halifax, queensland, one of 10 children. Eddie koiki mabo was born on 29 june, 1936, on the island of mer murray island in the torres strait. Through the long ten years of eddie fighting for the land rights and the legal definition of. 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. Koiki eddie mabo 193792, then living in townsville, spoke at the conference about land rights in the torres strait. She was an australian south sea islander of nivanuatu descent whose ancestors were blackbirded to work in the sugar cane. Eddie mabo s contribution to australia, and what he did to benefit the country.
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. Bryan a keoncohen island of mer murray torres straits. The high court finalized the case by overturning terra nullius doctrine on june 3, 1992. The mabo decision was named after torres strait islander eddie koiki mabo who led the fight to change land laws to recognise indigenous. I would not be inclined to act on his evidence on a matter bearing his selfinterest. Eddie mabo, in my view, is quite capable of tailoring his story to whatever shape he perceives will advance his cause. 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.
Eddie koiki mabo grew up on the island of his forefathers, mer or murray island in the torres strait. Online only issued 23 may 2002 coral dow, informationelinks social policy group. As a torres strait islander who campaigned for indigenous land rights, eddie koiki mabos work led to an important decision by the high court. 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. 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. Mau powers latest track koiki honours the mabo legacy. Mabothe native title revolutiondelves into the mabo legal case. Eddie koiki mabo why should eddie mabo be in the hall of heroes. It provides for the justification of any past allowances of land that may otherwise have been unacceptable because of the existence of native title. Benny mabo, eddies uncle, and his wife, maiga, adopted the baby and his name was changed to eddie koiki mabo. Mau powers latest track koiki honours the mabo legacy nitv. Mabo day commemorates eddie koiki mabo and his decadelong effort to make the australian government officially recognise that his people own mer island. Edward koiki mabo was born on mer murray island in 1936. 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.
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. Mabo e01 sound recordings collected by eddie koiki mabo. Google maps contents eddie koiki mabo 1 a life of community leadership 2 mabo. Born in 1936, he would be known as man who fought for the first australians and there rights. Exiled from murray island murray island courts found him. He became well known for campaigning for indigenous land rights. 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. As we celebrate the courage and the achievements of eddie. There are two sections referring to the aboriginal people that marginalises.
His mother died giving birth and he was adopted by his uncle, benny mabo. Company has been renowned for years as a reliable and trustworthy business partner. Mabo is the story of how one man fought the system and won, how one man affected the lives of all his people. Eddie mabo is the first plaintiff in a group action. Eddie koiki mabo was born on the murray island, in the torres strait on june 29, 1936. Eddie mabo was born when he was born, his mother died. She was the wife of eddie mabo until his death in 1992. Mabo life of an island man is the story of a small island and an extraordinary man.
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. Mabo day mabo day marks the anniversary of the high court of australias judgement in 1992 in the mabo case. This is a day of particular significance for torres strait islander. 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. 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. One of the attendees of the conference was a lawyer who suggested mabo to have a test case related to the land. It covers his years as a boy on the island of mer through to his struggle within the union cause and the black rights. Australian journalist jeff mcmullen delivered the following speech to 25th anniversary mabo celebration in townsville tonight. Eddie mabo mad it possible for legislation to be passed native title act as shown in source 2 which today.
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. Mabo day marks the anniversary of the high court of australias judgement in 1992 in the mabo case. Five things you should know about the mabo decision the. Mabo news, research and analysis the conversation page 1. Priceless eddie mabo self portrait held at aiatsis abc. Eddie koiki mabo was born on murray island in the torres strait, but lived most of his life in exile. 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. Biography edward koiki eddie mabo indigenous australia. Eddie koiki mabos name is synonymous with native title rights. Twentyfive years ago on 3 june 1992, the high court handed down its judgement in the mabo case. 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. Mabo was exiled from the island when he was 16, and worked across northern queensland and the torres strait. 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.
Jun 04, 2017 australian journalist jeff mcmullen delivered the following speech to 25th anniversary mabo celebration in townsville tonight. Theyve tried direct resistance, street campaigns, political lobbying, industrial action. This meant that benny could pass on his land to eddie when he died. Here for the first time is the life story of edward koiki mabo, told largely in his own words. 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. 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. Edward koiki mabo 19361992, torres strait islander community leader and. 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. However, eddie mabo and his supporters chose another route.
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. 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. 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. Prime minister paul keating launched a program of reconciliation and a. They bypassed state and federal governments, and went straight to the high court of australia. Eddie koiki mabo left and jack wailu on the torres strait island of mer. Eddie koiki mabo was a torres strait islander who believed australian laws on land ownership were wrong and fought to.
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. Eddie mabos contribution to australia, and what he did to benefit the country. 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. National archives of australiaaap april 26, 2017 australian politics explainer.
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