This week, at Kalkarindji, a small outpost in the northern deserts of Australia, a major commemorative festival took place to mark 50 years since the historic and ground-breaking Wave Hill strike by around 200 Aboriginal stockmen. The Gurindji people were protesting against the atrocious work and pay conditions that they had endured for years, especially at the pastoral station owned by Lord Vestey. This strike was supported by unions and other activists throughout Australia. The Gurindji struggle is seen as the birth of the Land Rights movement in Australia. Their struggle is immortalised in a song entitled ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’ written by Kev Carmody and Paul Kelly.
This week, at Kalkarindji, a small outpost in the northern deserts of Australia, a major commemorative festival took place to mark 50 years since the historic and ground-breaking Wave Hill strike by around 200 Aboriginal stockmen. The Gurindji people were protesting against the atrocious work and pay conditions that they had endured for years, especially at the pastoral station owned by Lord Vestey. This strike was supported by unions and other activists throughout Australia. The Gurindji struggle is seen as the birth of the Land Rights movement in Australia. Their struggle is immortalised in a song entitled ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’ written by Kev Carmody and Paul Kelly.
