I’d heard of the strike on Palm Island a few years back. I’d heard of the Gurindji/Wave Hill strike, but never heard of Palm Island one before.
There was a commemoration of the anniversary – 50th anniversary I think. Vernon’s cousin, Neil Willmett had bought a couple of shirts for the boys. I suggested this event as one for Blak History Month’s Great Moments in Blakistory.
Reading through the strike chapter on Palm Island Through a Long Lens, its so hard to imagine the insanity of the Palm Island restrictions.
We had a yarn about this event at the dinner table that night. Made me realise how important it is to teach kids about this stuff incrementally and in a way that relates to their lives, rather than in a classroom.