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🇦🇺 Australia /Culture & Society

Hundreds march to mark 60th anniversary of the historic Wave Hill Walk-Off

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Over 1,000 people marched to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Wave Hill Walk-Off in Australia.
  • The 1966 walk-off by Aboriginal workers, led by Vincent Lingiari, was a pivotal moment in the land rights movement.
  • It led to the Gurindji people becoming the first Aboriginal group to have land returned by the Commonwealth.

A significant gathering marked the 60th anniversary of the Wave Hill Walk-Off, a landmark event in Australia's Indigenous land rights struggle. More than 1,000 people marched from Kalkarindji to the Victoria River, honoring the pivotal 1966 protest.

You are the first people that stood up and said, 'We won't accept this anymore, this is not right; it's not right that people are treated this way'.

— Brian Manning JuniorBrian Manning Junior addressed young Gurindji leaders at the anniversary festival, urging them to take inspiration from the historical protest and advocate for their community.

The walk-off, initiated by Aboriginal workers led by Vincent Lingiari, began as a strike over wages and working conditions. However, it evolved into a powerful demand for land restitution, aiming to enable the Gurindji people to establish their own cattle station. This historic action ultimately resulted in the Gurindji becoming the first Indigenous Australians to have land returned by the Commonwealth government, nine years after the strike commenced.

During the annual Gurindji Freedom Day Festival, speakers emphasized the importance of the event for future generations. Brian Manning Junior, son of a key unionist involved in bringing national attention to the walk-off, urged young Gurindji leaders to draw inspiration from their elders. He described the occasion as a call for the youth to advocate for their community, stating, "You are the first people that stood up and said, 'We won't accept this anymore, this is not right; it's not right that people are treated this way.'"

We do it for our people, for our community. It's what makes us so proud of who we are.

— Roslyn FrithGurindji traditional owner Roslyn Frith spoke about the significance of the anniversary, highlighting the pride and community focus of her people's achievements.

Roslyn Frith, a Gurindji traditional owner, reflected on the weekend as a reminder of her people's achievements, saying, "We do it for our people, for our community. It's what makes us so proud of who we are." The anniversary also saw the participation of Kerry Gibbs, who as a 14-year-old in 1966 helped deliver essential supplies to the striking workers. He drove a restored Bedford truck, similar to those used at the time, recalling the critical role food supplies played in sustaining the strikers. Gibbs noted the risks involved, as truckers feared retribution and took precautions to avoid detection.

We had flour, sugar, beef. In realistic terms, had it have not been for that food, the station would have broken them.

— Kerry GibbsKerry Gibbs described the vital food supplies he helped deliver to the striking workers in 1966, emphasizing their importance for the strikers' survival.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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