Anthony Martin Fernando (6 April 1864 – 9 January 1949) was an early
Aboriginal Australian
Aboriginal Australians are the various indigenous peoples of the Australian mainland and many of its islands, excluding the ethnically distinct people of the Torres Strait Islands.
Humans first migrated to Australia 50,000 to 65,000 year ...
toymaker and early
political activist
A political movement is a collective attempt by a group of people to change government policy or social values. Political movements are usually in opposition to an element of the status quo, and are often associated with a certain ideology. Some ...
.
Biography
Fernando was born in
Woolloomooloo, New South Wales as a member of the
Dharug nation.
He spent most of his life in "self-imposed" exile, overseas, protesting and publicising the injustices inflicted upon himself, his people, and Aboriginal Australians generally:
[Paisley, Fiona "Into self-imposed exile" ''Griffith REVIEW'' Edition 6: Our Global Face](_blank)
Accessed 30 May 2010.
...'his long grey beard damp with mist, his frail elderly frame wrapped in a large overcoat'. Pinned to his coat were scores of small, white, toy skeletons and he wore a placard proclaiming: 'This is all Australia has left of my people'
Accessed 30 May 2010.
He died in the
East London
East London is the part of London, England, east of the ancient City of London and north of the River Thames as it begins to widen. East London developed as London Docklands, London's docklands and the primary industrial centre. The expansion of ...
town of
Ilford
Ilford is a large List of areas of London, town in East London, England, northeast of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Redbridge, Ilford is within the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Greater London. It had a po ...
on 9 January 1949.
On-line newspaper articles
*
*
*
Steve Meacham, "Aboriginal activist campaigned in Europe 100 years ago", ''Sydney Morning Herald'', May 27, 2012.
External links
small>Accessed 30 May 2010.
"Fernando's Ghost" - Transcript, SOVEREIGN UNION - National Unity Government, "Sovereign Union" - Asserting Aboriginal Sovereignty into Governance.Accessed 30 May 2010.
* [http://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/from_little_things_big_things_grow/exhibition_highlights/ National Museum of Australia "From Little Things Big Things Grow: Fighting for Indigenous Rights 1920–1970" Exhibition – including artist's impression of Anthony Martin Fernando]
Accessed 30 May 2010.
Paisley, Fiona "Into self-imposed exile" ''Griffith REVIEW'' Edition 6: Our Global FaceAccessed 30 May 2010.
Paisley, Fiona "Hidden Story Behind a Portrait (of Anthony Martin Fernando)" National Museum of Australiasmall>Accessed 30 May 2010.
THE STORY OF AM FERNANDO, Radio National, Late Night Live, 23 May 2012.
Further reading
*
Fiona Paisley, ''The Lone Protestor - A M Fernando in Australia and Europe''. Aboriginal Studies Press, 2012.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fernando, Anthony
1864 births
1949 deaths
Australian indigenous rights activists
Activists from Sydney
Colony of New South Wales people