Remembering the 1957 Palm Island strike

On 9 June, members of the QCU and ACTU joined with the people of Palm Island for the first Indigenous Workers Conference, part of the celebrations for 60th anniversary of the Palm Island Strike 57.

QTU activist, Gandu Jarjum member and Bwgcolman Community School teacher Letitia Murgha participated in the event, which highlighted the importance of collectivism, unionism, and fighting injustices wherever they may be.

Strike 57 was a defining moment in the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander activism. In 1957, Aboriginal people were forced to live “under the act”, a piece of legislation that gave powers controlling every aspect of an Aboriginal person’s life to superintendents on missions. The 1897 Aboriginal Protection Act forced people to work for no or minimal wages, be subjected to poor living conditions and be deprived of equal rights or social justice.

In 1957, seven Palm Island men – Willie Thaiday, Albie Geia, Eric Lymburner, Sonny Sibley, Bill Congoo, George Watson and Gordon Tapau – led a strike against the discriminatory treatment of Indigenous people, after a petition to the superintendent demanding improved wages, health, housing and working conditions was ignored.

Although poor conditions were a major cause of the strike, the trigger was the superintendent’s decision to deport Albie Geia, who had allegedly disobeyed an overseer. Geia refused to leave the island, united the community, and declared the strike on 10 June 1957.

Five days later the strike was broken following dawn raids on the homes of the seven strike leaders and the forcible removal of these men and their families from the island by armed police.

The events of this time are deeply etched into the collective memory of the people of Palm Island.

Sixty years on, the staunch determination, resilience, courage and activism of these men and their families and supporters are remembered and honoured. Recently, the community of Palm Island has gazetted a public holiday to honour these men, who are referred to as the “Magnificent Seven”.

This strike has been a catalyst and inspiring force for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people striving for recognition of the injustices of living “under the act”, celebrating and acknowledging self-determination and empowerment.

Today, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people join with and walk together with the union movement in seeking to ensure fair wages and social justice, not suppression and oppression. New generations have the legacy of these men to draw upon and will be inspired to continue the fight for the Australian way of life of a “fair go!”

Letitia Murgha                                                                                                                       Gandu Jarjum member

Elissa Ferguson                                                                                                                   North Queensland Organiser


Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 122 No 5, 21 July 2017, p4