Vincent Lingiari — Biography

Vincent’s victory

‘We want to live on our land, our way’ – Vincent Lingiari, 1966.

Vincent Lingiari was a soft-spoken man who possessed an unwavering will and passion for
his peoples’ rights to their land. He inspired an incredible landmark victory in a time when
Indigenous Australians faced terrible adversity. Because of this, Vincent is regarded as one
of the greatest Aboriginal leaders of all time.

In the 1960s, working conditions and opportunities for Indigenous men and women were
appalling, and work for men in the Northern Territory and other rural areas was limited to
working as stockmen or station-hands on big cattle stations.

Back in 1966, along with several other men, Vincent led a strike that would shake the
foundations of Australian society and create a new future for his people.

It was a simple stand, but one that symbolised a great deal.

‘He was a good leader,’ explains Victor Vincent, Lingiari’s eldest son.

‘He wasn’t only fighting for the Gurindji people – he was fighting for all Aboriginal people, for
the way the white man treated us.’

In March of 1967, Vincent led his people back to Wave Hill Station. However, they were not
about to surrender and instead they established their own settlement at a waterhole known
as Daguragu.

Once there, they stood firm in their fight, demanding that the land be returned to them.

Interest in the case intensified as many people, for the first time, became aware of the
appalling conditions under which many Aboriginal people lived.

It was clear that the Gurindji people were not about to budge. In March 1971, with the help of
a variety of people, many of them non-Indigenous, they began fencing and building and
soon developed the Murramulla Gurindji company.

Shortly afterwards, in January 1972, it was announced by Prime Minister Billy McMahon
that funds would be made available for Aboriginal people to buy land. Following these
announcements, Lord Vestey, who owned Wave Hill Station, offered to surrender some
areas of his lease to the Gurindji people and they were handed inalienable freehold title to
Daguragu. A victory!

In an emotional ceremony in January 1972, it was announced by Prime Minister Billy

McMahon that funds would be made available for Aboriginal people to buy land. in January
During the historic Wave Hill strike, Vincent Lingiari proved himself to be one of the strongest
and most inspirational Aboriginal leaders ever, and his achievement will always be
remembered as a turning point in Australian history.

'Vincent Lingiari' Deadly Vibe Issue 90 August 2004, Used with permission Deadly Vibe
Group
http://www.vibe.com.au

Vincent Lingiari Worksheet

 1. Predicting
a. What do you know about Aboriginal rights in Australia? (Write
2–3 sentences)
________________________________________________________________
I know that in Australia Aboriginal peoples are equal to everybody else. I
know that they have the right to be free from discrimination that they may
receive about their cultures etc. I also know that Indigenous Australians have
the right to live peacefully in freedom and security.
________________________________________________________________

b. What do you already know about Vincent Lingiari? (2–3

sentences)
________________________________________________________________
I know that Vincent Lingiari is an aboriginal stockman born in 1908

. I know that he helped his community to stop being treated how they
were in their own country. And I know that he died in 1988.

________________________________________________________________

c. What do you predict this text will be about? (1–2 sentences)

________________________________________________________________
I believe this text will be about Vincent Lingiari and his life and the significant
events that occurred due to his choices and decisions. I also predict this text
will be a Biography text.

________________________________________________________________

2. Reading
a. Read the Vincent Lingiari Biography above.
 3. Clarifying
a. What does ‘adversity’ mean? (1 sentence)

Adversity means a bad, difficult or unpleasant situation.

________________________________________________________________

b. Locate Daguragu in the Northern Territory on a map. (research)

4. Questioning
a. Who was Lord Vestey? (1–2 sentences)
________________________________________________________________

Lord Vestey was born in 1941 .He was a British peer, Landowner and
businessman.

________________________________________________________________

Where was the site for the protest? (1 sentence)

________________________________________________________________
The protest was held in the wave hill castle station in Northen Territory On
the 23rd of August 1966

b. How long did the protest last? (1 sentence)

________________________________________________________________
Vincent Lingiaris protest lasted eight years, it stared in 1966 protesting that
aboriginals weren’t paid nearly enough that they should and that they
demanded their traditional rights of their land returned to them.
________________________________________________________________

c. What did pouring local soil into Vincent’s hands symbolise? (2–3
sentences)
________________________________________________________________
Gough Whitlam poured local soil into Vincent Lingiari’s hands in 1975. He did
this to symbolise the Australian Governments recognition of the Aboriginal
land and rights of Wave Hill returned to him and his people.

5. Summarising
a. List three key points from the text.
i. ‘in January 1972, it was announced by Prime Minister Billy
McMahon that funds would be made available for Aboriginal people to buy land.’

ii. ‘ In an emotional ceremony in January 1972, it was announced by

Prime Minister Billy McMahon that funds would be made available for Aboriginal
people to buy land.’

iii. ‘Back in 1966, along with several other men, Vincent led a strike
that would shake the foundations of Australian society and create a new future for his
people.’

6. Connecting
a. What issues or events happening in the world or your own life
does this text remind you about? (3–4 sentences)

This significant situation reminds me of protests about saving the earth and
global warming changes. But the difference between them if that mixed
people are protesting about this global issue. It reminds me of this because it
is/was a major protest happening on local places protesting that something
needs to change. It also reminds me because people were concerned about
the future for the other generations to come just like Vincent Lingiari was
concerned about his and his people futures.