Dr. H. C. (Nugget) Coombs
Dr.HC Coombs, Chair of the Council for Aboriginal Affairs from 1967 to 1976, recalled in 1992 his first visit to Yirrkala in February 1968, when he met members of the family of Galarrwuy Yunupingu, later to become chair of the Northern Land Council:
'I listened to Galarrwuy's father, a great man and a noble warrior. He spoke powerfully about the mining company, the Government and its servants. I did not understand his words, but the language and the tone of his ringing voice, his hands, and his whole body, made clear what he thought of the "white invaders". I remember Galarrwuy, then only a boy in his early teens interpreting for me in careful words so that I would not feel hurt personally.'
'I listened to Galarrwuy's father, a great man and a noble warrior. He spoke powerfully about the mining company, the Government and its servants. I did not understand his words, but the language and the tone of his ringing voice, his hands, and his whole body, made clear what he thought of the "white invaders". I remember Galarrwuy, then only a boy in his early teens interpreting for me in careful words so that I would not feel hurt personally.'
Keywords: 1967 referendum, Arnhem Land, Coombs, Dr. H.C. (Nugget), Gove, Gove Case, land rights, Northern land Council, Northern Territory, Yirrkala, Yolgnu, Yunupingu, Galarrwuy, 1992
Source: Occasional address by Dr. H.C.Coombs - on the graduation of Raymattja Marika- Mununggiritj 19/6/92, Yirrkala Community School Box 22 of 25 ('M-P') Coombs Papers, Oakman accession, National Library of Australia. Still: Nugget Coombs. Courtesy of ANU Reporter.
Author: Nettheim, Garth
Source: Coombs, HC
Author: Nettheim, Garth
Source: Coombs, HC