Chicka Dixon
Encyclopedia
Charles "Chicka" Dixon was an Australian Aboriginal activist and leader.
He was active in campaigns around the 1967 referendum and the Aboriginal Tent Embassy
, dedicating his life to the fight for basic human rights and justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
In 1970 Dixon was instrumental in establishing Australia's first Aboriginal Legal Service in Redfern
; he co-founded the Tent Embassy in Canberra in 1972. He was the first Aboriginal person to be appointed as a Councillor on the Australia Council
and is a former Chairman of the Council's Aboriginal Arts Board. In 1983 Dixon was named the first Aboriginal of the Year.
Dixon attended his first political meeting on his 18th birthday in 1946. Inspired by Jack Patten
, an organiser of the 1938 Day of Mourning
and the Aborigines Progressive Association
, he has been politically active ever since. During the 1960s he was spokesperson for the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders.
In 1972 he travelled to China
to highlight the Aboriginal struggle in an attempt to shame the Australian Government into action. Qantas
would not fly the group, so Dixon found an airline that would.
In 2006 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters for his eminent service to the community by the University of New South Wales
.
During his seventies, he dealt with asbestos
poisoning, a legacy from his working days on the Sydney docks as a wharfie.
On 5 November 2007, reports appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald and Brisbane Times claiming Dixon had obtained 150 pages of his ASIO File. The files are, Dixon says, wildly inaccurate. Dixon joins activists Charles Perkins, Faith Bandler, Melbourne academic Gary Foley, author Michael Hyde and ABC's Phillip Adams in being among those who have obtained their ASIO files and openly spoken about their files in mainstream media. Part of Dixon's story can be read in the Brisbane Times article and listened to in an SMH multimedia clip, which shows images of the files themselves.
, which the Maritime Union of Australia
(MUA) says he contracted as a wharf worker. He is survived by his two daughters, Rhonda and Christine, his brothers and sisters, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and extended family.
He was active in campaigns around the 1967 referendum and the Aboriginal Tent Embassy
Aboriginal Tent Embassy
The Aboriginal Tent Embassy is a controversial semi-permanent assemblage claiming to represent the political rights of Australian Aborigines. It is made of a large group of activists, signs, and tents that reside on the lawn of Old Parliament House in Canberra, the Australian capital...
, dedicating his life to the fight for basic human rights and justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
In 1970 Dixon was instrumental in establishing Australia's first Aboriginal Legal Service in Redfern
Redfern, New South Wales
Redfern is an inner-city suburb of Sydney. Redfern is 3 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney...
; he co-founded the Tent Embassy in Canberra in 1972. He was the first Aboriginal person to be appointed as a Councillor on the Australia Council
Australia Council
The Australia Council, informally known as the Australia Council for the Arts, is the official arts council or arts funding body of the Government of Australia.-Function:...
and is a former Chairman of the Council's Aboriginal Arts Board. In 1983 Dixon was named the first Aboriginal of the Year.
Dixon attended his first political meeting on his 18th birthday in 1946. Inspired by Jack Patten
Jack Patten
John Thomas Patten , known as Jack Patten was an Australian Aboriginal activist and journalist.-Biography:...
, an organiser of the 1938 Day of Mourning
Day of Mourning
The Day of Mourning was a day of protest held by Aboriginal Australians on 26 January 1938, the sesquicentenary of British colonisation of Australia...
and the Aborigines Progressive Association
Aborigines Progressive Association
The Aborigines Progressive Association, was established in 1937 by William Ferguson, Pearl Gibbs and Jack Patten in Dubbo, New South Wales. Ferguson and Gibbs led a group in the western part of the state, while Patten assemble an alliance of activists in the north-east...
, he has been politically active ever since. During the 1960s he was spokesperson for the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders.
In 1972 he travelled to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to highlight the Aboriginal struggle in an attempt to shame the Australian Government into action. Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
would not fly the group, so Dixon found an airline that would.
In 2006 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters for his eminent service to the community by the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
.
During his seventies, he dealt with asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
poisoning, a legacy from his working days on the Sydney docks as a wharfie.
On 5 November 2007, reports appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald and Brisbane Times claiming Dixon had obtained 150 pages of his ASIO File. The files are, Dixon says, wildly inaccurate. Dixon joins activists Charles Perkins, Faith Bandler, Melbourne academic Gary Foley, author Michael Hyde and ABC's Phillip Adams in being among those who have obtained their ASIO files and openly spoken about their files in mainstream media. Part of Dixon's story can be read in the Brisbane Times article and listened to in an SMH multimedia clip, which shows images of the files themselves.
Death
Dixon died at a Sydney nursing home on 20 March 2010 from asbestosisAsbestosis
Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory and fibrotic medical condition affecting the parenchymal tissue of the lungs caused by the inhalation and retention of asbestos fibers...
, which the Maritime Union of Australia
Maritime Union of Australia
The Maritime Union of Australia covers waterside workers, seafarers, port workers, professional divers, and office workers associated with Australian ports. As of 2011 the union has about 13,000 members. It is an affiliate of the International Transport Workers' Federation and represents the...
(MUA) says he contracted as a wharf worker. He is survived by his two daughters, Rhonda and Christine, his brothers and sisters, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and extended family.
External links
- Interview with Chicka Dixon Mura Gadi National Library Australia 5–12 May 1995 Interviewed by Gary Foley