Paul Coe facts for kids
Paul Coe was born on 4 February 1949. He is a Wiradjuri man from Erambie Mission in Cowra, Australia. Paul Coe is a well-known Australian Aboriginal activist. He worked hard to support Aboriginal rights. He helped with the campaign for the 1967 referendum. He also helped start the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in 1972.
Early Life and Education
Paul Coe was born on 4 February 1949. His birthplace was Erambie Mission, which is near Cowra in New South Wales. He is a proud Wiradjuri man. His grandfather was Paul Joseph Coe.
Paul Coe was a very good student. He was the first Aboriginal student at Cowra High School to finish his Higher School Certificate. This is a big achievement. He was also chosen to be a prefect, which means he helped lead other students. He went to high school on a scholarship. This scholarship was given by a group of women's organisations.
Fighting for Rights
Paul Coe was very active in important campaigns. He helped with the 1967 referendum. This referendum was about changing the Australian Constitution to better recognise Aboriginal people. He also helped set up the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in 1972. This was a protest camp outside Parliament House. He worked with other important activists like Pearl Gibbs, Chicka Dixon, and Billy Craigie. They all fought for basic human rights and fairness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
In 1979, Paul Coe, along with Lyall Munro Jnr and Cecil Patten, camped outside Parliament House again. They represented the NSW Organisation for Aboriginal Unity. They wanted the federal government to create an Aboriginal bill of rights.
Paul Coe also helped start the Aboriginal Legal Service in 1970. This was the first free legal help service in Australia. He worked with other activists like Isabel Coe, Gary Williams, Gary Foley, and Tony Coorey. He continued to play a big part in this organisation for many years.
In 1979, Paul Coe took a case to the High Court of Australia. He argued that Aboriginal people had special rights. These rights should be recognised because they were the first people to live in Australia. This was before European colonisation. However, his case was not successful.
Later Career
Paul Coe worked as a legal practitioner. In 1997, his name was removed from the list of people allowed to practice law. This decision was made by a legal tribunal. The tribunal found that he had not met the high standards required for lawyers. He appealed this decision, but the Supreme Court of New South Wales agreed with the tribunal.
Both the tribunal and the court praised Paul Coe for his important work. They recognised how much he helped the Aboriginal community. However, they also said that lawyers must always be trustworthy and follow the law.
