Worked to get Australia’s first people recognised
THE legacy of indigenous rights activist Evelyn Scott has been remembered by highprofile indigenous figures and government officials at a state funeral in Townsville.
The lifelong social justice campaigner died in her sleep in late September.
Mourners gathered at the Townsville Stadium late last week, where Western Australian Senator Pat Dodson delivered a eulogy acknowledging Dr Scott’s leading role in the referendum to recognise Indigenous Australians in 1967.
‘‘I want to thank her family for giving this nation the opportunity to benefit from her grace, her experience and her wisdom,’’ Senator Dodson said.
‘‘She has left our nation a richer, a fairer, a more equal place because of her commitment and her dedication.’’
Born in 1935, Dr Scott’s career started in north Queensland where she lobbied for legal, housing and medical services and indigenous women’s rights.
Gracelyn Smallwood, an Adjunct Professor at James Cook University, recalled the lasting impression of remarks Dr Scott delivered at a Federal Council for the Advancement of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders meeting in the 1950s.
‘‘She was very vocal and she was such a tall, striking
❛ She has left our nation a richer, a fairer, a more equal place
because of her commitment and her
dedication
indigenous woman, that I’ve never forgotten,’’ Prof Smallwood said.
‘‘I was very impressed, hearing about human rights violations and advocacy for social justice.
‘‘It’s helped drive me to where I am today, 55 years down the track as a human rights activist, but (also) an advocate for all Australians, to understand truth and reconciliation in this country.’’
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk lamented former governments’ opposition to delivering equality.
‘‘Too often, the government of the day was focused on the management of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, with no objective or ambition to achieve equality of opportunity for all, least of all the First Australians,’’ the premier said.
‘‘As Evelyn said, ‘In true reconciliation, through the remembering, the grieving and the healing, we can come to terms with our conscience and become as one in the dreaming of this land’.
‘‘Dr Scott, thanks to you, today we reach out our hands and we dare to share your dream.’’
Dr Scott started working in the Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advancement League in the 1960s, and chaired the National Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation in the late 1990s.
She also chaired the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation during a difficult period when John Howard’s government was cutting reconciliation funding.
Dr Scott was appointed to the Order of Australia in the 2003 Australia Day Honours list.
Dr Scott was the mother of rugby league player Sam Backo, who represented Australia and Queensland in the 1980s, one of the leading players of that era.