IN Australia we tend to believe our history as it’s reported by the media and our aAcademics without question. 

We often elevate the wrong people to a status they do not deserve. 

The famous Wave Hill Walk off in 1966 is an example.

The iconic photo of Gough Whitlam pouring a handful of sand into the hand of Vincent Lingiari moments before he boarded his airplane and retreated to the comfort of his Canberra residence defined Whitlam’s legacy as great humanitarian. 

Frank Hardy, the author, communist and pub pontificator gained fame for encouraging the Gurindji people in their action and later publishing his version of the event from his home in Melbourne.

The Unionists who arrived at Wave Hill with an agenda but without any regard for the immediate future of the Gurindji people, organised the strike and subsequent walk off then disappeared. 

When the dust cleared and all the above crusaders had gone home the Gurindji people found themselves camped on a waterhole on Wattie Creek with no means to sustain them. 

They were led by Vincent Lingiari a man widely respected as a Stockman and decent man but with no experience in the processes of Government.    

Some years ago I met Brian Manning in Darwin – he was a wharfie, unionist and musician. I had several conversations with Brian and I believe he was a genuine champion of the underdog. 

Brian was the bloke who raised the money and carted several loads of desperately needed supplies the 1,200km round trip down to Wattie Creek on his old Bedford truck – a quiet achiever who played a bigger part than the megalomaniacs that have been elevated to fame.  

Looking at the photos of the proud young stockmen and their families who left Wave Hill in 1966 I can’t help wondering what Vincent Lingiari and Brian Manning (now both passed on) would think of the progress that has been made.  

– G.D. Egan, Tennant Creek.