Author(s): Richard Broome

Australian Studies

Fighting Hard tells a history of the Aborigines Advancement League, the oldest Aboriginal organisation in Australia. As both a welfare and activist body, the League can be seen as the 'mother' of all Aboriginal Victorian community organisations, having spawned a diverse range of organisations. The League influenced the fight for civil rights and took a stand against the government's assimilation policy. Its activism with government and the United Nations predates the better known Tent Embassy and provided a Victorian, national and international perspective on Aboriginal affairs. Over the years the League has proven that despite the pervasive mythology, Aboriginal people can successfully govern their own organisations. In particular, the League has proven its capacity for managing good governance while maintaining Aboriginal cultural values.