Aborigines Progressive Association facts for kids
The Aborigines Progressive Association (APA) was a group that worked for the rights of Aboriginal people in New South Wales. It was started and led by William Ferguson and Jack Patten from 1937 to 1944. Later, it was restarted by Herbert Groves from 1963 until about 1970.
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The First APA (1937-1944)
The Aborigines Progressive Association (APA) began in 1937. William Ferguson and Jack Patten started it in Dubbo, New South Wales. Ferguson led a group in the western part of the state. Patten brought together activists in the north-east.
Both parts of the APA worked hard to organise political events. They held rallies and protests in Aboriginal communities and reserves. They also protested in big cities like Sydney.
The Day of Mourning
In 1938, the APA organised a special event called the Day of Mourning. It happened on Australia Day (January 26) that year. The protest was about the lack of basic human rights for Aboriginal people. It took place at the Australian Hall in Sydney.
The APA worked with another group, the Melbourne-based Australian Aborigines' League. Together, they held the Day of Mourning. They wanted to show how Aboriginal people were being treated. They also demanded full citizenship and equal rights for everyone.
William Ferguson, who helped organise the APA, spoke about the Day of Mourning. He said, "Aborigines do not want protection... We have been protected for 150 years, and look what has become of us." He meant that the "protection" had not helped them. Instead, it had caused many problems.
The first APA group stopped its work in 1944.
The Second APA (1963-1970)
The APA was started again in 1963 by Herbert Stanley "Bert" Groves. He had also helped start another group, the Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship (AAF), in 1956. Pearl Gibbs was also a co-founder of this new APA. Other important people involved were Joyce Clague, Dulcie Flower, Harriet Ellis, Ray Peckham, Chicka Dixon, and Ken Brindle.
Herbert Groves strongly believed that Aboriginal people should be in charge of this new APA.
The Churinga Journal
From 1964 to 1970, the APA under Groves published a journal. It was called Churinga. This journal was the official publication of the APA. It was inspired by an earlier journal from 1938 called Abo Call.
The Churinga journal aimed to teach non-Aboriginal people about important issues. These included the fight for equal rights and land rights for Indigenous people. It also spoke to the Aboriginal community. It tried to bring different groups together and create unity.
After December 1970, the journal continued as Alchuringa. It was published by Kevin Gilbert's Aboriginal National Theatre Foundation for a short time.
Herbert Groves passed away on December 28, 1970, at 63 years old.
See also
- Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs (1964–1977)
