Who is eddie mabo for kids

Getting to know Eddie Mabo, the man behind the legend. Flying the colours for cultural identity as Torres Strait celebrates Flag Day. More on:.

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Russia again sends nuclear-capable bombers on patrol over Belarus. He was refused permission to land on any of the other islands in the Straits. A reputation as a radical was a heavy burden in Queensland at the time. For Eddie the rejection was devastating.

He could not go home. He was not only landless in the eyes of white man's law, he was an exile as well. In a land rights conference was held at James Cook University and Mabo gave a speech in which he explained the land inheritance system on Murray Island. The significance of this in terms of Australian common law doctrine was noted by one of the attendees, a lawyer, who suggested there should be a test case to claim land rights through the court system.

McIntyre represented Mabo during the hearings. Of the eventual outcome of that decision a decade later, Reynolds said: "it was a ten-year battle and it was a remarkable saga really. Five months later, on 3 June , the High Court announced its historic decision to overturn the legal doctrine of terra nullius , which defined land which was supposedly "uninhabited" as liable for government seizure. That decision, formally "Mabo v Queensland No 2 ", now commonly called "Mabo" in Australia, is recognised for its landmark status.

Three years after Mabo died, that being the traditional mourning period for the people of Murray Island, a memorial service was held in Townsville. Justice Martin Moynihan determined, on the basis of evidence presented to him, that Mabo had not been adopted by Benny and Maiga Mabo.

The community could prove native title: it had observed traditional laws and customs and had continuously occupied and inherited its land on Mer since before white settlement. Of the original five plaintiffs, only two remained to present evidence to the High Court; Salee had died, and Sam Passi had withdrawn his claim. Hearings began in the High Court in May and a verdict, in favour of community entitlements rather than individual claims, was delivered on 3 June Mabo v.

During the preceding decade Mabo had pursued various lines of education and employment. From to he was enrolled in an Aboriginal and Islander Teacher Education Program at the Townsville College of Advanced Education later, following amalgamation, James Cook University , but he did not finish the course. He was employed by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs as a community arts liaison officer —88 for the Festival of Pacific Arts held in Townsville, and also served as vice-chairman of Magani Malu Kes, an organisation that stressed Torres Strait Islander identity and autonomy.

Survived by his wife, two sons, five daughters, and three adopted children two sons and a daughter , he died on 21 January in the Royal Brisbane Hospital and was buried in Belgian Gardens cemetery, Townsville.

On 3 June an elaborate marble tombstone featuring a sculptured image of his face was unveiled in front of a large number of assembled guests. That night the grave was desecrated. On 18 September Mabo was reburied at Las. Throughout his life Mabo had demonstrated initiative, originality, determination, intelligence, and commitment to obtaining justice for Indigenous Australians and recognition of the traditional land rights of his family and people.