Gary Foley facts for kids
Gary Edward Foley (born 1950) is an Aboriginal Australian activist, writer, and actor from the Gumbaynggirr people. He is well-known for helping to start the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra in 1972. He also helped create an Aboriginal Legal Service in Redfern in the 1970s. He also helped write and acted in the first Indigenous Australian play, Basically Black.
As of August 2022, Foley is a Professor at Victoria University.
Contents
Early Life and Education
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Gary Edward Foley was born in 1950 in Grafton, New South Wales. He is from the Gumbaynggirr people. He spent a lot of his childhood in Nambucca Heads. He left school at 15 and moved to Redfern around 1967 when he was 17. He worked as an apprentice draughtsman.
Activism and Community Work
Soon after arriving in Redfern, Foley became involved in the "black power" movement. This movement was about Aboriginal people gaining more rights and control over their lives. It was inspired by similar movements in other countries.
Protesting for Rights
Foley played a big part in organizing protests against the Springboks rugby team in 1971. This was because of Apartheid in South Africa, which was a system of unfair separation and discrimination against non-white people. The protests were so strong that a planned tour by the South African cricket team was cancelled. This led to South African sports teams being banned from international competitions for 20 years.
In 1972, Foley worked for the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. He was fired after six weeks, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) was asked to keep an eye on him.
Starting Important Services
Foley helped create the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in 1972. It was set up outside Parliament House to show the challenges Aboriginal people faced. The Tent Embassy is still there today and has helped bring attention to Aboriginal issues.
He was also involved in starting the Aboriginal Legal Service in Redfern. This service provides legal help to Aboriginal people. He also helped set up the Aboriginal Medical Service in Melbourne and Sydney, which provides health care.
Later Activism
Foley set up the first Aboriginal Information Centre in London. When he returned to Australia, he organized protests against the Brisbane Commonwealth Games in 1982. In 1988, he organized Aboriginal protests against the Australian Bicentenary, which marked 200 years since European settlement. Later, he became an advisor for a special investigation into why Aboriginal people were dying while in police custody.
Foley has described himself as an anarchist. This is a political idea that suggests society can work well without a government or rulers, focusing on freedom and cooperation.
Stage, Film, and TV Work
Foley helped write and appeared in Basically Black in 1972. This was the first play created by Aboriginal people. In 1978, he traveled to Europe to show Aboriginal films at the Cannes Film Festival and other places.
As an actor, Foley appeared in films like Backroads (1977) and Dogs in Space. He also had guest roles on TV shows such as A Country Practice and The Flying Doctors.
He was also featured in several documentaries, including "Fair Play" (2010), The Redfern Story (2014), Persons of Interest (2014), and The Foundation (2002), which tells the story of Koori history in Sydney.
Academic Career
Foley earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Melbourne in 2000, studying History and Cultural Studies. He then completed an honors degree in history in 2002.
From 2001 to 2005, he was a senior curator at Museum Victoria. In 2005, he became a lecturer at the University of Melbourne. In 2008, he became a senior lecturer in history and politics at Victoria University.
Foley completed his doctorate degree at the University of Melbourne in 2013. He was awarded a special prize for his excellent work. As of August 2022, Foley works as a professor at Victoria University.
Other Contributions
Foley was the first Indigenous director of the Aboriginal Arts Board of the Australia Council from 1983 to 1986. He also held other important leadership roles in the Aboriginal community.
In 1994, he created The Koori History Website, also known as Kooriweb. This was the first website owned and run by Aboriginal people.
A photo portrait of Foley by artist Destiny Deacon was shown at the National Gallery of Victoria in 2020.
Awards and Recognition
The Australia Council for the Arts gives out the Red Ochre Award to outstanding Indigenous Australian artists for their lifetime achievements.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Gary Foley | Red Ochre Award | Awarded |
In 2024, Foley was chosen as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.
See also
- Anarchism in Australia
Books
- Foley, G.; Schaap, A.; and Howell, E. (eds.) (2014) The Aboriginal Tent Embassy: Sovereignty, Black Power, Land Rights and the State, Routledge: London
- Dexter, Barrie (2015) Pandora's Box: The Council for Aboriginal Affairs 1967–1976. Foley, G. and Howell, E. (eds) Keeaira Press: Southport QLD.
