A pioneer in the struggle for Aboriginal rights Shemyliah Ahmat

A pioneer in the struggle for Aboriginal rights

Shemyliah Ahmat, Year 9

Joe McGinness was an Aboriginal activist, truck driver, During the 1967 Referendum, Joe travelled the country to encourage people to soldier, fisherman, and great-great grandfather to vote ‘Yes’, which raised ‘the expectations of Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal people, Shemyliah Ahmat. Before passing away in 2003, the regarding Aboriginal rights and welfare’ (Thomas 2017). 89-year-old was recognised as a well-known Indigenous Reflecting on his work in an interview, Joe said: “There were various organisations rights campaigner and awarded an Order of Australia. that supported our request for a referendum to have equal rights: church Joe was born in 1914, at his parents’ tin mine, 50 km south of Darwin. His mother, groups, unions and everything, but we had to get around for six or eight years Alyandabu, was from Kungarakany people from the Northern Territory and his campaigning to get that support, which proved very effective, I think. father, Stephen McGinness, was an Irish Immigrant. Joe was the youngest of five Ninety percent of the population voted for this constitutional change: church children and lived with his family until he was groups and everything else.” (National Museum four years old, when his father died. Without his of Australia n.d.) European father, the lease on the tin mine was Under Joe’s leadership, FCAATSI had several wins forfeited and Joe and his brother Val became for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and wards of the state and were removed to Darwin’s fought for wage equity, legislative reform and an Kahlin Compound. In an interview with the early push for land rights. Australian National Museum before he died, he described Kahlin as being ‘a place of severe deprivation’ (National Museum of Australia n.d.). In his later life, he became a key figure in the development of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and continued to be a strong voice Joe left the institution at 13 years of age and for Indigenous rights. Returning to North worked as roustabout, truck driver and trepang Queensland, Joe became regional manager for fisherman in the waters around the Torres Strait. Aboriginal Hostels in Cairns and continued He met and married his first wife, Jaura Ah Mat, to help establish organisations to represent who died four years later. He had two children Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. from this marriage, Elsie and John. Australian Senator Patrick Dodson is quoted on After surviving the Darwin bombing in 1942, Joe the Koori website (2003), remembering Joe: joined the Australian army and served in Borneo during the Second World War. After the war, he met his second wife, Amy Nagas, and had three more children; Sandra, Raymond and Samuel. He gained work on the wharves in Cairns and This grand old man has been the inspiration to many of us who have joined in the battle for justice. He has provided wisdom and advice, guidance and correction, humour and hope. became a member of the Waterside Workers’ Shemyliah is a fifth-generation relation to Joe and Federation. From here, Joe’s political career says, “Even though I don’t really know him, I feel began to take shape and he became secretary of we have a strong relation.” the Cairns Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advancement League when it was formed in 1959. This grand old man has been References: Throughout the 1960s, the League instigated several federal investigations including querying the inspiration to many of us Kooriweb 2003, Heroes in the Struggle for Justice: Important People on the Political Struggle for Aboriginal Rights, Joe why many Aboriginal people were not receiving McGuiness 1914 - 2003, viewed 5 May 2020, http:// their Commonwealth Tuberculosis Allowance and helped to mount investigations into abuses of the who have joined in the battle kooriweb.org/foley/heroes/biogs/joe_mcguinness.html National Museum of Australia n.d., Joe McGuiness, viewed Queensland Trust Fund. The Cairns League’s activism coincided with a for justice. He has provided 7 May 2020, https://www.nma.gov.au/explore/features/ indigenous-rights/people/joe-mcginness national movement of Indigenous Activism and a national agency was formed, the Federal Council wisdom and advice, Thomas M 2017, The 1967 Referendum, Parliament of Australia, viewed 5 May 2020, https://www.aph.gov. au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/for the Advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI). Joe soon became guidance and correction, Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2017/May/The_1967_ Referendum their national president and served in this role for 17 years (Kooriweb 2003). humour and hope. Margot Shave