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New York Islanders vs. New Jersey Devils - Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum - Uniondale, New York - November 29, 2014
Howe Islander is a cable ferry operated by Frontenac County.
Photo taken at the mainland east dock in Gananoque, ON.
Queensland State Archives Item ID 510665, Correspondence file
Commonwealth Games protested
Source: Deadly Story
In 1982 the Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people used the international focus on the event to their benefit, bringing to light the injustices they faced every day by staging a protest.
Brisbane 1982 - Highlighting injustices
The Commonwealth Games is an international sporting event between current and former colonies of the British Empire held every 4 years. In 1982 they were held in Brisbane. The international attention the Games brought about provided an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to highlight the injustices and discrimination they were facing.
The objectives of the protest were many and covered a range of different areas of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life but two of the significant issues raised were land rights and control of Aboriginal affairs. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community wanted complete ownership of their lands in Queensland and to be able to protect Country from mining.
Legalities of the marches
It became clear as early as January of 1982 that activists were planning some sort of action for the Games. As the supposed ‘threat’ of Indigenous activity grew closer, the then Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Peterson declared a State of Emergency and proclaimed street marches illegal. Only two marches were approved by Queensland police making all other marches illegal. This meant that anyone who took part in unapproved marches could be arrested and charged under the new Games legislation. If a protestor was found guilty they faced a fine of up to $2,000 or two years in prison.
The protest
As the games drew near the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community began calling out for people to come and support the protests and demonstrations against the discrimination they were suffering.
Leaders of the Community had differing views what kind of action would get the best results. Some believed peaceful rallies and cultural festivities would best get the message across while others felt that it would make little impact and that they needed to be more forceful.
On September 26 around 2,000 people marched for land rights. Protesters carried placards and banners and walked peacefully from the city to a park across the Brisbane River. It was considered Queensland’s biggest Aboriginal march at the time.
On September 29 another 1,000 people marched peacefully across central Brisbane in support of land rights. Hey held placards, banners and wore badges that read:
Stop playing games: land rights now!
A demonstration was held during the opening ceremony and police were called to have protesters removed. As the police moved in and began arresting people, protestors chanted 'the whole world is watching.' Thirty-nine people were arrested in that demonstration.
A further 104 protesters were arrested on October 4 during a land rights sit-in near the athletics stadium. According to The Age newspaper those who were arrested were the first people to be charged under the Queensland Government's Games security laws. Most charges were dropped over the next year. On the same day around 20 spectators sat quietly in the stands of the athletics stadium holding Aboriginal flags for the duration of the program.
Another rally was held on October 7. Around 500 people attended. Brisbane activist, Ross Watson, spoke to the crowd saying that "we are going to march today…we have no permit…we will be breaking the law. If you march you are likely to be arrested." About 400 police descended on a group of protestors who broke off from the main and arrested around 260 protesters including the then Governor-General’s daughter Ann Stephen.
This was a stark example of police and government suppression of our people’s right to protest and free speech. Despite the harm caused by the authorities, the people involved fought hard to have their message heard.
Sources:
•Commonwealth Games Brisbane & Aboriginal Protest, 1982, Museums Victoria
•Commonwealth Games Demonstrations - Brisbane 1982, The Koori History Website
•Activists plan to protest during the 'Stolenwealth' games, NITV
•'The fight never left': Stolenwealth Games protesters draw on long tradition, The Guardian.
The litle Alcatraz Tours cruise ship "Islander" is the boat I took out on the Bay Tour. Here it is from Coits Tower perspective coming back from it's next round.
The Islander is renowned as one of the world's most versatile aircraft, as it can be converted quickly from a passenger taxi to an air ambulance.
Britten Norman Islander in the colours of the Scottish Ambulance Service. This aircraft regularly lands on the beaches of some of the remoter Scottish islands. I've flown in this type once, several years ago. It's like being in a flying Transit Van. ;)
Working together for a basic need and thereby increasing the dependability on each other, which in return is giving to flourish the love between them.
Isn't that a sweet feeling while working with your better half on achieving the same goal?
Headed for Neebish Island for a family reunion.... about to board the Neebish Islander for the short trip across the St. Mary's River (the down bound shipping channel)