On June 3, Australia recognises Mabo Day, which commemorates the landmark 1992 decision by the High Court of Australia to overturn the legal definition of the country as a land belonging to nobody – terra nullius – prior to European settlement. It recognises the role of Edward Koiki Mabo, a Meriam man from the island of Mer (Murray Island) in the Torres Straits, whose campaigning efforts were invaluable to the outcome of the case.
The University of Sydney will be celebrating this important part of our history with a panel discussion in their Abercrombie Building. You’ll hear from proud Torres Strait Islander man Michael Bani, who’s the director of Indigenous wellbeing organisation, Kayin Revolution. He’s also played for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League and will be discussing his work in upholding the spiritual, cultural, mental and physical health of Indigenous communities and managing traditional practices within a modern context.
He’ll be joined by panelists Jasper Garay, the associate lecturer for the Sydney School of Public Health, and active Indigenus community member Larissa Minniecon for the two-hour discussion. It's free to attend, but you may want to register to ensure a spot in the audience.