On Tuesday, June 10, 2008 the Governing Council of the NSWALC filed into the same Legislative Assembly chamber to commemorate and celebrate the 25th anniversary of that proclamation.

25th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF THE ALRA

In June 2008, the Land Rights network across NSW celebrated the 25^th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act. Regional and local events were staged between June 2008 and December 2008 as part of the festivities.

NSWALC staged 3 major events in celebration of the 25^th Anniversary and to also highlight the achievements and history of land rights in NSW. These included a historic 'Black Parliament' in the NSW legislative Assembly on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, and a Silver Anniversary Land Rights Ball at the Sydney Convention Centre on Friday June 13, 2008.

NSWALC was also a major sponsor the 14^th Deadly Awards held at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday, October 9, 2008. The 2008 Deadly Awards featured a poignant musical tribute to the land rights movement as part of the official ceremony.

The Black Parliament
On Tuesday, June 10, 2008, eight of the nine members of the Governing Council of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council filed into the Legislative Assembly chamber to commemorate and celebrate the 25th Anniversary proclamation of the Aboriginal Land Rights act.

It was 25 years to the day when the then Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Frank Walker, stood at the dispatch box in the same Legislative Assembly and introduced the first ever land rights legislation in New South Wales on behalf of the Wran Labor Government.

Mr. Walker described the reformist legislation as "the first step in this state towards redressing the injustice and neglect of real Aboriginal needs since Captain Philip stepped upon the shores of Port Jackson in 1788."

"The Government," Mr. Walker continued, "has made a clear and unequivocal decision that land rights for Aborigines is the most fundamental initiative to be taken for the regeneration of Aboriginal culture and dignity."

The special sitting of the Council, the State's peak representative Aboriginal body, was arranged through the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Richard Torbay and the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Paul Lynch.

The Council meeting, the first ever held by NSWALC in the State Parliament, was reminiscent of the two Black Parliaments held in the Assembly in the late nineties.

It was attended by a number of distinguished guests from the land rights network around the state and a host of current and former Parliamentarians.

They included the current Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Lynch, former Minister and Treasurer, Doctor Andrew Refshauge, the then Shadow Minister, Mr. Greg Aplin and his immediate predecessor, Mr. Brad Hazzard, the member for Wakehurst.

The Chairperson of NSWALC, Ms Bev Manton, acknowledged their presence and the ongoing commitment of all parties in the NSW Parliament to the fundamental rights and principles enshrined in the legislation.

Ms Manton also paid tribute to Mr. Walker, who was unable to attend due to a bout of poor health, and the sprightly 84-year old "father" of land rights, Mr. Maurice Keane, who was in attendance.

The Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery, hosted the meeting during the absence of Minister Lynch in a Cabinet meeting.

The meeting was subject of a special radio broadcast through the National Indigenous Radio Service and was filmed for a silver anniversary DVD entitled Justice Will Be Done. The 25th anniversary celebrations also generated front page coverage in the National Indigenous Times and the Koori Mail.

Each of the NSWALC Councillors in attendance delivered a short speech which set out the Council's political and administrative agenda.

Copies of the speeches can be accessed below as PDFs:

Silver Anniversary Ball
On Friday 13 2008, over 850 guests gathered at the Sydney Convention Centre to celebrate the 25th Anniversary 'in style' at a Silver Anniversary Ball proudly hosted by NSWALC.

The sold out event attracted hundreds of Local Aboriginal Land Council members, current and former NSWALC staff, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff from State Government Departments and community organisations as well many as supporters of Land Rights over the last 25 years and beyond.

The evening featured entertainment by Jabiru, Jimmy Little, Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter and Aboriginal comedian Sean Choolburra. The Master of Ceremonies was Aboriginal actor Aaron Pedersen.

Speaking on the night, NSWALC Chairperson Bev Manton said that the "gathering was about coming together in celebration, catching up with old friends, and re-telling and reliving the many stories, yarns and events that have happened over the last 25 years."

"This is the living history of the struggle for land rights which should never be forgotten.

"We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of those who worked in and were involved to build land rights in NSW as we know it today," she concluded.

(See photos from the Silver Anniversay Ball here)