Aborigines Advancement League

The Aborigines Advancement League (also known as the Aboriginal Advancement League) is the oldest Aboriginal organisation in Australia [ [http://www.nma.gov.au/indigenousrights/organisation9950.html?oID=14 Victorian Aborigines Advancement League ] ] . It is primarily concerned with Aboriginal welfare issues and the preservation of Aboriginal culture and heritage, and is based in Melbourne.

History

The League was established in 1957 as a response to an enquiry by retired magistrate, Charles McLean, into the circumstances of Aboriginal Victorians. McLean was critical of conditions in the Lake Tyers and Framlingham Aboriginal Reserves. McLean recommended that persons of mixed Aboriginal and European decent be removed from the reserves. The people of Lake Tyers objected to this, and the League was formed out of their campaign [ [http://www.atns.net.au/agreement.asp?EntityID=1028 Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements Project ] ] .

The new League drew from two already existing organisations, the Australian Aborigines League, established 1934 [ [http://www.reasoninrevolt.net.au/biogs/E000259b.htm Australian Aborigines League - Institution - Reason in Revolt ] ] and the Save the Aborigines Committee, which had been established in 1955 as a response to the Warburton Ranges crisis [ [http://www.nma.gov.au/indigenousrights/organisation9950.html?oID=14 Victorian Aborigines Advancement League ] ] . Founding President of the League was Gordon Bryant, with Doris Blackburn as Deputy President, Stan Davey as Secretary and Sir Douglas Nicholls as Field Officer [ [http://www.nma.gov.au/indigenousrights/organisation9950.html?oID=14 Victorian Aborigines Advancement League ] ] .

Early activities included lobbying for a referendum to change the Australian constitution to allow the Federal government to legislate on Aboriginal affairs, and an establishing a legal defence fund for Albert Namatjira, after he was charged with supplying liquor to an Aboriginal ward [ [http://www.nma.gov.au/indigenousrights/organisation9950.html?oID=14 Victorian Aborigines Advancement League ] ] . By 1967 it had moved to being fully controlled by Aboriginal people with Bill Onus as the first Aboriginal President [ [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150625b.htm Onus, William Townsend (Bill) (1906 - 1968) Biographical Entry - Australian Dictionary of Biography Online ] ] .

Current activities

The League provides a number of services to Koorie people, including family support, food assistance, home visits, advocacy, counselling and educational programs, drug and alcohol awareness and funeral services. It also has a Cultural Unit that provides information and speakers for schools. [ [http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/member/directory_details.do?orgId=448 ourcommunity.com.au - Directory of Organisations ] ]

Headquarters and Keeping Place

In 1999 the Victorian government completed a $2,790,000 renovation of the Leagues headquarters in Watt St., Northcote. As well as providing a community facility, the building houses a museum and "keeping place" for items of historical, cultural and spiritual importance to Aboriginal people. [ [http://hnb.dhs.vic.gov.au/web/pubaff/medrel.nsf/0/b10635f85e264ca84a2567a600089937?OpenDocument Minister opens refurbished Aborigines Advancement League (2/7/99) ] ]

ee also

References