Cummeragunja walk-off facts for kids
| Date | 4 February 1939 |
|---|---|
| Location | Cummeragunja Station |
| Participants | Jack Patten Bill Onus Eric Onus William Cooper |
The Cummeragunja walk-off in 1939 was a very important protest. It was led by Aboriginal people living at the Cummeragunja Station. This reserve was a special area for Aboriginal people in southern New South Wales.
Why Did They Protest?
The Cummeragunja Mission was home to many Yorta Yorta people. They had been moved there in the late 1800s from another place called the Maloga Mission. Over time, the government of New South Wales took more and more control over the mission.
By late 1938, people at the mission were very unhappy. They didn't like how the mission was managed. Their living conditions were poor, and there were strict rules. They were even stopped from moving freely. A missionary named W.B. Payne said that Aboriginal people were being ignored. He felt that money was being raised for missions in other countries, but not for people in Australia.
The Walk-Off
On 4 February 1939, an important leader named Jack Patten tried to speak to the people at the mission. He was arrested and removed. After this, about 200 residents of the Cummeragunja Mission decided to leave. They walked off the mission and crossed the Murray River. This meant they left the state of New South Wales.
This action went against the rules set by the New South Wales Board for the Protection of Aborigines. This Board had strict control over Aboriginal people's lives. Activist Bill Onus was a budding actor in Melbourne. He gave up his acting career to return to his birthplace and join the walk-off.
What Happened Next?
Many of the people who left the mission in February 1939 found new homes. They settled in northern Victoria. Towns like Barmah, Echuca, and Shepparton became their new communities.
The Cummeragunja walk-off was one of the first big protests by Indigenous Australians. It had a huge impact on future events. For example, it helped lead to the 1967 referendum. This referendum was a major step towards equal rights for Aboriginal people in Australia.
Remembering the Walk-Off
The story of the walk-off has been told in different ways:
- In 1981, a TV show called Women of the Sun had an episode based on the walk-off. It was a fictional story, but it showed the spirit of the protest.
- In 2010, an opera called Pecan Summer opened. It was based on the walk-off and performed near Shepparton. Deborah Cheetham, whose uncle Jimmy Little was born at Cummeragunja Mission, wrote, composed, and performed in this opera.
- In 2020, a Yorta Yorta man named Ross Morgan designed a special jersey for the Collingwood Football Club. This jersey was worn during a game against North Melbourne. It was part of the Sir Doug Nicholls round, which celebrates Indigenous culture in Australian Football. Ross Morgan said that the walk-off is still strongly remembered by the families involved.
