born on 30 June 1948 at Melville Bay in the Northern Territory
My name is Galarrwuy Yunupingu and I represent ‘Australians All’ because,
after being court interpreter for my father Munggurawuy Yunupingu, in the historic Gove
Land Rights case in 1971, I joined the National Land Council and became assistant manager
in 1974. From 1977 to 1980, then again from 1983, I was chairman of the Northern Land
Council. I led land rights negotiations with mining and government bodies (one example is
the historic Ranger Uranium Agreement, after which I was named 1978 Australian of the
Year.)
1901-2001 Centenary of
Federation