The following is a recent article published by The Age Newspaper (Oct 4th 2014) about the news of the Queen accepting the petition for Aboriginal rights, 80 years on. To read the full article please head over to the site.
It has been an 80-year struggle, but a petition from a Victorian Aboriginal family has finally arrived at the doorstep of Buckingham Palace.
In 1934, Yorta Yorta man William Cooper wrote a petition rallying King George V for a representative for indigenous people in Federal Parliament to help address injustices.
Works to conservce and restore historic buildings at Footscray Station are now complete.
You are cordially invited to tour the heritage-listed buildings and inspect new information panels, which tell the vibrant story of the station and celebrates the life of William Cooper, former Footscray resident and a leading campaigner for the rights of Aboriginal and Jewish people during the 1930s, after whom the station footbridge is named.
Alfred Turner (“Uncle Boydie”), grandson of William Cooper, will unveil information at the station recognising William Cooper’s legacy of building bridges across communities.
Queen receives Cooper petition from Governor-General
On 5 August 14, the Australian Governor-General had a private audience with Her Majesty the Queen at Balmoral, England and handed her the replica of William Cooper’s 1930s petition. She was able to receive it as it was not a live petition but a historical document. Prime Minister Tony Abbott was supportive of the handover. Uncle Boydie had presented it to Sir Peter Cosgrove in Canberra in May this year. Cooper had tried to have it forwarded to the Queen’s grandfather King George V in the 1930’s. For Uncle Boydie it was mission accomplished to fulfill his grandfather’s unfinished business. The Governor-General, accompanied by Lady Cosgrove, was invested as a Knight in the Order of Australia by Her Majesty the Queen at the same meeting.
At Balmoral, the Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove attend an audience with Her Majesty The Queen, at which the Governor-General is invested as a Knight in the Order of Australia. photo: http://www.gg.gov.au/events/audience-her-majesty-queen
The great granddaughter of William Cooper, Cheryl Russell visited us (Norman and Barbara Miller) in Cairns recently. Here is a photo of Cheryl (front row, left side with headscarf). The photo of the Cooper family with the Millers was taken at Yatir Forest in Israel in Dec 2010 beside a plaque dedicated to William Cooper. We were in Israel for the honouring of William Cooper by having an Academic Chair of Resistance to the Holocaust named after him at Yad Vashem.
7 July 2014 radio interview with Barbara and Norman Miller from Adelaide for NAIDOC Week re William Cooper. Barbara did an interview with them in 2013 on William Cooper as well.
Cairns Tropical Writers Festival 2014 is on soon – Friday 12th to Sunday 14th September. Click through to view my profile and other 2014 authors attending the event.
Holocaust Survivor Helps Launch William Cooper Book in Adelaide to the Sounds of Jimmy Little’s “Yorta Yorta Man” and Geoff Bullock’s song “The Great South Lands of the Holy Spirit” Stirs Hearts at the Launch of the European Quest Book
Left Pic-Andrew Steiner, Barbara and Norman Miller and Jenny Hagger Photo – Rhonda Pooley Right Pic-Barbara Launching her books, Photo – Andrew Lothian
Thanks to Jenny Hagger, Director of AHOPFAN and team who organised my book launch for the State Library on 10 July. Norman and I arrived in Adelaide about 11am from Perth on Monday 7 July and we immediately did an interview by phone with Christian radio from Brisbane on National Aboriginal and Islander Observance Committee (NAIDOC). My first book is about William Cooper who is the father or originator of NAIDOC, the first one being held in January 1940 on the first Sunday before Australia Day. On Wednesday, Norman did interviews with ABC Cairns and Christian radio re NAIDOC.
Greg Sinclair, a relative of William Cooper, was not at a Wednesday meeting of the Adelaide Aboriginal and Islander Congress but Norman met him at the NAIDOC march Friday morning. We spoke at a number of meetings while in Adelaide, having a full schedule.
I had invited Andrew Steiner, a sculptor and Holocaust survivor to meet us at the State Library at 1.30pm before our 2-4pm book launch on Thursday. I had not met Andrew but have been on regular teleconferences with him assisting Alf Turner or Uncle Boydie to complete his grandfather William Cooper’s unfinished business. Norman asked him to address the book launch.
Left Pic-Andrew Steiner, Barbara & Norman Photo – Rhonda Pooley Right Pic-Jenny addressing book launch Photo – Andrew Lothian
Thanks to Jenny Hagger, Director of AHOPFAN and team who organised my book launch for the State Library on 10 July. Norman and I arrived in Adelaide about 11am from Perth on Monday 7 July and we immediately did an interview by phone with Christian radio from Brisbane on National Aboriginal and Islander Observance Committee (NAIDOC). My first book is about William Cooper who is the father or originator of NAIDOC, the first one being held in January 1940 on the first Sunday before Australia Day. On Wednesday, Norman did interviews with ABC Cairns and Christian radio re NAIDOC.
Greg Sinclair, a relative of William Cooper, was not at a Wednesday meeting of the Adelaide Aboriginal and Islander Congress but Norman met him at the NAIDOC march Friday morning. We spoke at a number of meetings while in Adelaide, having a full schedule.
I had invited Andrew Steiner, a sculptor and Holocaust survivor to meet us at the State Library at 1.30pm before our 2-4pm book launch on Thursday. I had not met Andrew but have been on regular teleconferences with him assisting Alf Turner or Uncle Boydie to complete his grandfather William Cooper’s unfinished business. Norman asked him to address the book launch.
Book launch – Front Row L to R Cynthia Lothian, Gael Harrison, Brian Hagger, Norman & Barbara, Photo – Andrew Lothian
What a historic venue to have a book launch 4.30 – 6pm June 30 on the Duyfken 1606 Replica in the Fremantle Fishing Harbour!!
Barbara’s Book launch Photo – Duyfken 1606 Replica Foundation
Thanks to the Duyfken 1606 Replica Foundation and volunteers for their support for the launch of my book “The European Quest to Find Terra Australis Incognita: Quiros, Torres and Janszoon” on the Duyfken 1606 Replica in the Fremantle Fishing Harbour. With a crowd of 50 people and a balmy day, I enjoyed sharing about my book. Thanks also to my husband Norman who was MC, Nick Burningham, a Maritime Heritage consultant, Henny Crijns of the VOC Historical Society and John Longley of America’s Cup fame who all said a few words. It was the Dutch East India Company or VOC that sent the Duyfken to what became Australia from present day Indonesia. Thanks to 98five Sonshine FM radio and Fremantle Gazette for covering it, Susan Leggo for her help and all those who enthusiastically bought books.
The Fremantle Gazette link is Page null in July 08, 2014 The Fremantle Gazette July 8 2014 Lifestyle P24 “Dutch Arrival in Duyfken in Detail”
Left Pic-Photo of Barbara at Duyfken by Norman Miller June 29 Right Pic-Photo of Barbara at Duyfken by Norman Miller June 29
There is a thriving Dutch community in Fremantle and Perth and a thriving community of Yacht Clubs, boating and maritime history enthusiasts in Freo and Perth. My book was a hit as a maritime history of Australia and the books are now in the WA Maritime Museum, the Map and Chart Shop, the State Library bookshop, Millpoint Caffe Bookshop, Serenity Books and Oxford St Books.
Keep an eye out for a review of the European Quest book by Dr Howard Gray in the Australian Association of Maritime History’s journal, The Great Circle.
Norman and I had many other speaking engagements as well while we were in Perth at which people took the opportunity to pick up the European Quest book or my William Cooper book, especially as it was the start of NAIDOC with William Cooper being the father of NAIDOC.
We attended the NAIDOC Perth Opening Ceremony which ran from 12pm – 4pm at Wellington Square, East Perth. It had 3 huge tents and was attended by thousands. A large contingent of Indigenous servicemen took part with many dignitaries present including Mr Ken Wyatt, Member for Hasluck, the first Indigenous MP in the lower house. Norman was able to get a lot of signatures on his petition for a referendum to recognize Indigenous Australians in the constitution and remove racism from it.
We went to the NAIDOC evening service at St George’s Cathedral (Anglican) meeting Kelvin Crombie there. Kelvin’s latest book is “Gallipoli – the Road to Jerusalem.” They had a special service and display to honour Indigenous servicemen which was very well attended. Kelvin’s family was represented in the display.
Left Pic-NAIDOC Perth Opening Ceremony 2014 Photo – Barbara Miller Right Pic-NAIDOC Service St George’s Cathedral Photo – Barbara Miller
I now have my books about de Quiros and other explorers who searched for the great South Land in the following stores in Brisbane – Dymocks, CBD, Angus & Robertson Post Office Square, Avid Reader, West End, Christian Supplies, Milton and Qld Museum and Qld State Library bookshops. Also the William Cooper book. The former is also in the Catholic Bookshop in Canberra and both are in Koorong stores around Australia. Some libraries have copies eg AIATSIS, National Library, Qld State Library and Brisbane Square Library. Bridges for Peace supports their wonderful work by carrying a number of titles including my William Cooper book.
I was privileged to attend the opening of the Courage to Care exhibition and program in Brisbane on 5 June 14 and I’m pictured beside one of the exhibits. It honours William Cooper for leading the only known private protest worldwide against Kristallnacht in 1938 when he and the Australian Aborigines League walked from his home in Footscray to the German Consulate in Melbourne to deliver a letter of protest which was not received. Kristallnacht was the start of the Holocaust. Cooper was a Christian and a campaigner for his people. Continue reading “Courage to Care exhibition opening”
