Central Land Council
in this section
CLC Press Releases
- 28 October 2008
- Devils Marbles handed back to traditional owners ›› more
- 27 October 2008
- Tanami Regional Partnership Agreement ›› more
- 27 October 2008
- Warlpiri use royalties to build Yuendumu Pool ›› more
- 15 October 2008
- Minister looks for distraction ›› more
- 14 October 2008
- CLC response to NTER review ›› more
- 14 August 2008 2008
- Communities have their say on intervention ›› more
- 31 July 2008 2008
- Fairfax news in bad taste ›› more
- 24 July 2008 2008
- election: accountability needed ›› more
- 17 July 2008 2008
- Royal commission needed into NT funding ›› more
- 11 July 2008 2008
- Simpson Desert: the last land rights claim under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act ›› more
- 8 July 2008 2008
- Sacred site damage at Wilora ›› more
- 30 May 2008
- Seal the Mereenie Loop Road Now ›› more
- 27 May 2008
- Angela Pamela Negotiations ›› more
- 9 May 2008
- Angela Pamela and the native title process ›› more
- 18 February 2008
- Coalition should support permit system ›› more
- 15 February 2008
- Politicians threaten to derail fresh start ›› more
- 22 January 2008
- Police ignorance upsets Lajamanu community ›› more
- 26 November 2007
- Optimism for a fresh consensual approach on Aboriginal affairs ›› more
- 21 November 2007
- Concerns over Central Petroleum tactics ›› more
The Land is Always Alive
Gurindji 25 Years
On 25 August 1991, over 500 people gathered at Gordy Creek to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Gurindji walkoff and the victories it sparked. Victor Vincent, whose father led the walkoff, told the crowd about the strength that led the Gurindji to freedom in their own land.
'My father couldn't read and write but he was really clever and he talked to the manager really strong', said Mr Vincent. 'He knew the tribal law and fought for the tribal law. 'He told the station manager, 'I think we need to work more good way and with more wages'. But the station just offered him two dollars a week. 'You know two dollars? You can't buy clothes you can't buy anything.So he said 'No – I'm gone. I'm gonna take all the people and go. I'm finished with Wave Hill''.
Political activist and author Frank Hardy, who helped to publicise the walkoff and to organise support for the Gurindji's struggle, told the celebration that the walkoff
'was the most important thing I ever got involved in.' 'Sometimes I was quite afraid that people would come with guns to get them out, but they stayed there and finally they got the land. 'Maybe they've still got problems and worries, but the Gurindji never yet struck a worry they couldn't beat or a problem they couldn't get round.'
Many of those who led the walkoff have now passed away but Mick Rangiari and the other community members who remember those days joined former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Robert Tickner and Central Land Council delegates at the Daguragu celebration. Singer Paul Kelly performed From little things big things grow, the song he and Kev Carmody wrote about the walkoff. Led by children from Daguragu, the Gurindji and their guests retraced part of their original walk in a re-enactment that they have observed since 1984. As the sun set Gurindji men and women, and women from Lajamanu and Papunya danced and sang to celebrate the land that has been won back and the struggle that began it.