Eleanor Harding facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eleanor Harding
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Eleanor Harding
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| Born |
Eleanor Nain
24 June 1934 |
| Died | 14 June 1996 (aged 61) Melbourne, Australia
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| Other names | Eleanor Deacon, Eleanor Petersen |
| Occupation | Aboriginal activist |
Eleanor Harding (1934-1996) was an amazing Indigenous Australian woman from the Torres Strait Islands. She worked very hard to get fair rights and equal opportunities for Aboriginal Australians. Eleanor also spoke up for women's rights and better education for everyone. She joined many groups to help Indigenous people achieve equality. In 2012, she was honored by the State of Victoria for her important work.
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Eleanor Harding's Early Life
Eleanor Nain was born on 24 June 1934. Her birthplace was Erub Island in the Torres Strait Islands, Australia. Her mother, Emma Pitt, was from the Meriam Mer people. Her father, Fred Nain, was from the Kuku peoples of Cape York, Queensland.
When Eleanor was eight, her father died. He was working on a pearling lugger boat. A few years later, her mother also passed away. Eleanor then became an orphan. Her grandmother, Annai Pitt, brought her from Erub Island to the mainland. They first lived in Cairns and later moved to Bloomfield, Queensland. By age thirteen, Eleanor was working. She was a kitchen helper at the Lake Eacham Hotel. She needed to earn her own living. At that time, the laws in Queensland were very unfair to Aboriginal people.
Moving to Melbourne and Starting Activism
In 1956, Eleanor hoped to find less unfair treatment. She moved to Melbourne, Australia. She lived in the South Yarra area first. Then she moved to the Fitzroy suburb. Eleanor had seven children. She took the last name Harding from Jack Harding. He was a white wharf worker.
The community in Fitzroy was very close. Eleanor quickly became part of a group of neighbors. They helped each other and visited people in prison. They did other social work to make their lives better. In the 1960s, she joined important groups. These included the Aboriginal Advancement League and the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI). They worked to get civil rights and equality for Indigenous Australians.
Fighting for Rights and Education
Eleanor Harding was a key activist. She helped push for the Aboriginal Australian Referendum of 1967. This vote changed the Constitution of Australia. It helped set the stage for more important laws later on. These laws were for indigenous rights.
As a leader in the National Aboriginal and Islander Women's Council, she worked on women's issues. She also took part in protests. These protests showed the problems that colonialism caused. They highlighted issues for women and Indigenous people. Throughout the 1970s, she helped victims of domestic violence. Even though she had limited schooling, Eleanor encouraged all her children to get higher education. She supported the Abschol movement. This program gave scholarships to Aboriginal students.
Eleanor also served on important boards. These included the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service. She also served on the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service. She stayed active into the 1980s. In 1983, she and other women started the Margaret Tucker Hostel. This place offered safe housing for young, homeless Aboriginal women.
Legacy and Recognition
Eleanor Harding passed away on 14 June 1996, in Melbourne. She was buried back on Darnley Island. After her death, an award was named in her honor. It is called "The Aunty Eleanor Harding Memorial Award." It has been given every year since 1999. It goes to a talented new artist in Indigenous performing arts.
In 2002, Eleanor's daughter, Destiny Deacon, created a special art tribute. It was called Postcards from Mummy. This artwork was shown at a big art event in Germany. Later, the exhibition was shown in Australia. In 2012, Eleanor Harding was added to the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll. This was a special recognition from the State of Victoria.
