Fighting Hard: The Victorian Aborigines Advancement League

(Paperback)

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Description

This book tells a history of the Aborigines Advancement League, the oldest Aboriginal organisation in Australia. As both a welfare and activist body, the League can be seen as the 'mother' of all Aboriginal Victorian community organisations, having spawned a diverse range of organisations. The League influenced the fight for civil rights and took a stand against the government's assimilation policy. Its activism with government and the United Nations predates the better known Tent Embassy and provided a Victorian, national and international perspective on Aboriginal affairs. Begun as a coalition of all Australians, in 1969 a black power takeover changed its management to Aboriginal community control -- something which was managed peacefully and fruitfully. Its national significance is marked by the League's leadership where, from the 1970s, many community heroes became role models for Aboriginal youth. Over the years the League has proven that despite the pervasive mythology, Aboriginal people can successfully govern their own organisations. In particular, the League has proven its capacity for managing good governance while maintaining Aboriginal cultural values.

Reviews

"Ive read the ms through from beginning to end. Its good -- very good. I like the way the career of the League has been humanised and personalised." -- Russell McGregor, Adjunct Professor of History at James Cook University, author of "Indifferent Inclusion" "A humanist has closed a crucial gap in contemporary Aboriginal history. Richard Broomes portrait of the significant Aborigines Advancement League illuminates aspects of our race relations that most people would rather not see, but need to see." -- Professor Colin Tatz

Author Bio

Richard Broome practised history at university for thirty five years, much of that time at La Trobe University, where he taught Australian and Indigenous history. He has won teaching awards, worked with secondary school curriculum, and is the author of eight books, including the prize-winning Aboriginal Victorians: A History since 1800(2005) and Aboriginal Australians: A History since 1788(2010).