Anthony Fernando

Anthony Martin Fernando (6 April 1864 – 9 January 1949) was an early Aboriginal Australian toymaker and early political activist. He is mostly known for his three-year protest outside London's Australia House which ended with his arrest in 1928. During the protest, he wore a cloak decorated with white toy skeletons.

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:

<blockquote> ...'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' </blockquote>

He died in the East London town of Ilford 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

• Browning, Daniel (15 July 2007) "Fernando's Ghost", Hindsight, ABC Radio National<small>Accessed 30 May 2010.</small>
• "Fernando's Ghost" - Transcript, SOVEREIGN UNION - National Unity Government, "Sovereign Union" - Asserting Aboriginal Sovereignty into Governance.
• Goodall, Heather (1988) "Aboriginal Calls for Justice: Learning from History" Aboriginal Law Bulletin No. 37 <small>Accessed 30 May 2010.</small>
• 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 <small>Accessed 30 May 2010.</small>
• Paisley, Fiona "Into self-imposed exile" Griffith REVIEW Edition 6: Our Global Face <small>Accessed 30 May 2010.</small>
• Paisley, Fiona "Hidden Story Behind a Portrait (of Anthony Martin Fernando)" National Museum of Australia<small>Accessed 30 May 2010.</small>
• 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