By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SYDNEY, Australia – One of the most influential individuals in Australia’s Aboriginal community passed away last weekend, suffering from asbestosis.

Charles “Chicka” Dixon contracted asbestosis when he was a “wharf worker”, according to the Maritime Union of Australia.  He died at age 81.

Mr. Dixon was national recognized for his work pertaining to aboriginal Australians.  He was an active participant in the campaign for the 1967 referendum on citizenship for these individuals.

Although many were aware that the activist has been sick for quite some time, learning of his death was still incredibly sad for state officials, who have offered to give him a state funeral.

Mr. Dixon was dedicated to working with the Aboriginal people of Australia for many years.  A New South Wales Premier, Kristina Keneally said that “[he] spent his life fighting for the rights of indigenous Australians.”

Another official, Bev Manton, who is the NSW Aboriginal Land Council Chairperson, noted that he “dedicated his life to fighting for basic human rights and justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”  [The Torres Strait Islands are located in the strait between Australia and the Melanesian island of New Guinea.]

Mr. Dixon, who was himself and Aboriginal person, became involved in Australian politics in 1946.

During the 1950s, Mr. Dixon was active in the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders.  He also set up services for a community in Sydney.

In addition, he was one of the founding members of the New South Wales Aboriginal Legal Service and the Aboriginal Medical service.

In 1972, Dixon brought a group of Aboriginal Australians to China to speak about “their struggle for justice while at the same time shaming the federal government.”

He was the first Aboriginal individual to be appointed as one of the Australia Council’s members.

According to the National Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia, “Chicka was a worker, leader and activist who was determined to turn around racism and elitism and gain proper recognition for the extraordinary culture and character of his people and the great injustice done to them.”

Ms. Manton proclaimed that “[t]he Chicka Dixon story is one of Australia’s gutsiest fighters for human rights”.

The state funeral will be held next week.

For more information please see:
Sydney Morning Herald – Aboriginal activist Charles ‘Chicka’ Dixon to receive state funeral – 23 March 2010

ABC News – Aboriginal activist ‘Chicka’ Dixon dies – 22 March 2010

Sydney Morning Herald – Aboriginal community mourns Chicka Dixon – 22 March 2010