William Cooper (Aboriginal Australian)
Encyclopedia
William Cooper was an Australia
n Aboriginal leader.
and Goulburn
Rivers in Victoria, Australia, he was forced to work for a variety of pastoral employers. He attended adult literacy classes and read widely, learning of the indigenous rights
movements in North America and New Zealand
.
William Cooper continued protesting the injustice of the Australian treatment of its indigenous people right up until his death in 1941. His major success was the establishment of a National Aborigines Day, first celebrated in 1940.
On 5 October 2010, the William Cooper Justice Centre was opened in Melbourne. The newly developed court complex was named in honour of Cooper's efforts as an indigenous rights campaigner.
and the 1929 World Sprint.
in Germany
, Cooper led a delegation of the Australian Aboriginal League to the German Consulate in Melbourne to deliver a petition which condemned the “cruel persecution of the Jewish people by the Nazi government of Germany.” The protest has been referred to as "the only private protest against the Germans following Kristallnacht."
, Cooper's grandson, Alfred “Boydie” Turner, was presented with a certificate from the Israeli Ambassador stating that 70 Australian trees were to be planted in Israel
in honor of William Cooper. The ceremony, held at the State Parliament
in Melbourne, was attended by several dozen members of the Yorta Yorta tribe as well as Victorian Premier
John Brumby
, Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister
Jenny Macklin
, lawmakers, diplomats and Jewish leaders.
On 28 April 2009, five trees were planted at the Forest of the Martyrs
near Jerusalem at a ceremony in Israel attended by Turner and about 12 members of William Cooper’s extended family as well as a number of Jewish leaders. On the same day, a ceremony at the Aborigines Advancement League in Melbourne was held to honour Cooper's "brave stance against the oppression of the Jews."
In August 2010, the Yad VaShem
Holocaust museum in Israel announced they would honour Cooper for his protests against the behavior towards Jews on Kristallnacht
. Yad Vashem plans to endow a small garden at its entrance in Cooper's honor. Cooper's name was submitted for recognition when it was discovered that Cooper's rally was the only private protest against Germany in the wake of Kristallnacht.
In December 2010, three commemorative events are planned:
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Aboriginal leader.
Early life
Born in Yorta Yorta territory around the intersection of the MurrayMurray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
and Goulburn
Goulburn River
Goulburn River may refer to:* Goulburn River , Australia* Goulburn River , Australia...
Rivers in Victoria, Australia, he was forced to work for a variety of pastoral employers. He attended adult literacy classes and read widely, learning of the indigenous rights
Indigenous rights
Indigenous rights are those rights that exist in recognition of the specific condition of the indigenous peoples. This includes not only the most basic human rights of physical survival and integrity, but also the preservation of their land, language, religion and other elements of cultural...
movements in North America and New Zealand
Maori protest movement
The Māori protest movement is a broad indigenous rights movement in New Zealand. While this movement has existed since Europeans first colonised New Zealand its modern form emerged in the early 1970s and has focused on issues such as the Treaty of Waitangi, Māori land rights, the Māori language and...
.
Campaign for Aboriginal Rights
He helped establish the Australian Aborigines League and, as its secretary, circulated a petition seeking direct representation in parliament, enfranchisement and land rights. He collected 1814 signatures despite active obstruction from the national and state governments of the day. In 1935, he led the first aboriginal deputation to a Commonwealth minister and in 1938, the first deputation to the prime minister. The government of the day rejected his requests.William Cooper continued protesting the injustice of the Australian treatment of its indigenous people right up until his death in 1941. His major success was the establishment of a National Aborigines Day, first celebrated in 1940.
On 5 October 2010, the William Cooper Justice Centre was opened in Melbourne. The newly developed court complex was named in honour of Cooper's efforts as an indigenous rights campaigner.
Family
His daughter Amy Charles was the matron of the first Aboriginal hostel established in Melbourne in 1959. One of his sons, Lynch Cooper, was an athlete who won the 1928 Stawell GiftStawell Gift
The Stawell Gift is Australia's oldest and richest short distance running race. It is run over every Easter weekend by the Stawell Athletic Club, with the main race finals on the holiday Monday, at Central Park, Stawell in the Grampian Mountains district of western Victoria.The race is run on grass...
and the 1929 World Sprint.
Protest against Kristallnacht
On 6 December 1938, several weeks after KristallnachtKristallnacht
Kristallnacht, also referred to as the Night of Broken Glass, and also Reichskristallnacht, Pogromnacht, and Novemberpogrome, was a pogrom or series of attacks against Jews throughout Nazi Germany and parts of Austria on 9–10 November 1938.Jewish homes were ransacked, as were shops, towns and...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Cooper led a delegation of the Australian Aboriginal League to the German Consulate in Melbourne to deliver a petition which condemned the “cruel persecution of the Jewish people by the Nazi government of Germany.” The protest has been referred to as "the only private protest against the Germans following Kristallnacht."
Legacy
On 6 December 2008, the 70th anniversary of the protest against KristallnachtKristallnacht
Kristallnacht, also referred to as the Night of Broken Glass, and also Reichskristallnacht, Pogromnacht, and Novemberpogrome, was a pogrom or series of attacks against Jews throughout Nazi Germany and parts of Austria on 9–10 November 1938.Jewish homes were ransacked, as were shops, towns and...
, Cooper's grandson, Alfred “Boydie” Turner, was presented with a certificate from the Israeli Ambassador stating that 70 Australian trees were to be planted in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in honor of William Cooper. The ceremony, held at the State Parliament
Parliament of Victoria
The Parliament of Victoria is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of Victoria. It follows a Westminster-derived parliamentary system and consists of The Queen, represented by the Governor of Victoria; the Legislative Council ; and the Legislative Assembly...
in Melbourne, was attended by several dozen members of the Yorta Yorta tribe as well as Victorian Premier
Premiers of Victoria
The Premier of Victoria is the leader of the government in the Australian state of Victoria. The Premier is appointed by the Governor of Victoria, and is the leader of the political party able to secure a majority in the Legislative Assembly....
John Brumby
John Brumby
John Mansfield Brumby , is an Australian Labor Party politician who was Premier of Victoria from 2007 to 2010. He became Premier after the resignation of Steve Bracks. He also served as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. He contested his first election...
, Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister
Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Family, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has been Jenny Macklin since December 2007.-Portfolio:...
Jenny Macklin
Jenny Macklin
Jennifer Louise Macklin , is an Australian politician. She is Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs in the Gillard Ministry...
, lawmakers, diplomats and Jewish leaders.
On 28 April 2009, five trees were planted at the Forest of the Martyrs
Forest of the Martyrs
The Forest of the Martyrs is a forest on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Israel. It is on the western edge of Eshtaol Forest near Beit Meir...
near Jerusalem at a ceremony in Israel attended by Turner and about 12 members of William Cooper’s extended family as well as a number of Jewish leaders. On the same day, a ceremony at the Aborigines Advancement League in Melbourne was held to honour Cooper's "brave stance against the oppression of the Jews."
In August 2010, the Yad VaShem
Yad Vashem
Yad Vashem is Israel's official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, established in 1953 through the Yad Vashem Law passed by the Knesset, Israel's parliament....
Holocaust museum in Israel announced they would honour Cooper for his protests against the behavior towards Jews on Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht, also referred to as the Night of Broken Glass, and also Reichskristallnacht, Pogromnacht, and Novemberpogrome, was a pogrom or series of attacks against Jews throughout Nazi Germany and parts of Austria on 9–10 November 1938.Jewish homes were ransacked, as were shops, towns and...
. Yad Vashem plans to endow a small garden at its entrance in Cooper's honor. Cooper's name was submitted for recognition when it was discovered that Cooper's rally was the only private protest against Germany in the wake of Kristallnacht.
In December 2010, three commemorative events are planned:
- Cooper's great-grandson, Kevin Russell will re-enact the walk from Cooper’s home, meeting up with Cooper’s grandson Uncle Boydie at Federation SquareFederation SquareFederation Square is a civic centre and cultural precinct in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
. - Cooper will be honoured in Israel by the creation of an Academic Chair in his honour to support resistance and research of World Holocaust Studies. A professorship attached to this Academic Chair is valued at $1,000,000.
- A Tribute will be held at Yad Vashem World Holocaust Memorial, with the family as invited guests. The Australian/Israel Leadership Forum will host an associated Gala Dinner to be attended by Kevin RuddKevin RuddKevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
, Julie BishopJulie BishopJulie Isabel Bishop is an Australian politician and the current Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of Australia. She holds this title as the deputy leader of the Liberal Party of Australia. She is the party's first female Deputy Leader and the third woman in Australian history to...
and another 17 Ministers including the Prime Minister of IsraelPrime Minister of IsraelThe Prime Minister of Israel is the head of the Israeli government and the most powerful political figure in Israel . The prime minister is the country's chief executive. The official residence of the prime minister, Beit Rosh Hamemshala is in Jerusalem...
, Benjamin NetanyahuBenjamin NetanyahuBenjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
.