Aunty Celia Smith and Granny Monsell campaigning, Brisbane, 1967 (June Bond Collection, AIATSIS)
The Right Wrongs interactive website, a partnership project between the ABC, NSLA and AIATSIS commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, was launched by Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator the Hon. Nigel Scullion at Parliament House, Monday 29 May, 2017.
The launch event was be attended by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from around Australia who assisted in the website’s production, helping bring stories past and present, illustrating the effects of this pivotal moment in the history of our nation, to life.
The website sets the scene and chronicles what happened in the lead up to 1967 and the events surrounding the Referendum, as well as what has happened in the 50 years since. It is a mixture of archive and contemporary stories from photos, videos and ephemera to audio packages, text and audience contributed content.
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) CEO Craig Ritchie said:
“The Right Wrongs launch will celebrate many years of hard work by the project partners and communities around Australia. The project was an exciting opportunity for us to research, preserve and share some of the unique items from our collection. We are very proud to be a part of this collaboration.
“The project has been an opportunity to focus on specific items, to talk to the people tied to them and to engage with other institutions to build links between our collections. It has enabled us to activate the stories held in our collection in new ways.”
National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA) representative, State Library of Western Australia CEO and State Librarian Margaret Allen said:
“This digital exhibition is the culmination of a five year project by NSLA to commemorate this significant event for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and reveal the diverse heritage collections held in our State and national libraries to the Australian public. We are delighted to be launching this website with our partners the ABC and AIATSIS.”
Co-Project Manager of the NSLA Indigenous Working Group and Curator Damien Webb said:
“The incredible archives of our state and national collecting institutions have been connected back to families, Elders and communities to tell the complex stories of survival, strength and solidarity that surround the historic 1967 referendum. This collaboration shines a light into the forgotten corners of our archives and helps us to understand the state of Indigenous rights in Australia, from the perspectives of those who have fought so long for change and equality.”
ABC Regional Director Fiona Reynolds said:
“Right Wrongs long-form digital feature webpage kicks off the ABC’s Our Focus: Reconciliation Week and tells the story of the 1967 referendum and its impact over the last 50 years. The ABC values this partnership that has enabled our content makers to access unique archival and contemporary stories, photos and videos allowing them to tell the complex stories from this point in time and beyond.”
Visit the website: www.abc.net.au/rightwrongs
Media release (PDF 279KB)
Media enquiries
Commsmedia@aiatsis.gov.au or 02 6246 1605