A. O. Neville
Encyclopedia
Auber Octavius Neville was a public servant, notably Chief Protector of Aborigines
, in Western Australia
.
, England
, Neville immigrated to Victoria, Australia
as a child. In 1897 he went from Victoria to Western Australia
he and joined the civil service there, quickly rising through the ranks. Neville became the state's second appointment, in 1915, to the role of the Chief Protector of Aborigines. During the next quarter-century, he presided over the controversial policy of removing Aboriginal children from their parents, children who were later termed the Stolen Generation
. More than 25% of Noongah children were confiscated in this way and sent to "concentration-like camps" at Mogumber at Moore River and Carrolup near Katanning.
Opposition to this practice was advocated at the time, but his role as Commissioner was never persistently challenged. In 1934, a royal commission was called to examine the current state of Aboriginals with regard his role as commissioner. This ended up giving him more power over the lives of Western Australian Aboriginals which, in turn, only increased their suffering. The period of misguided cultural assimilation
, attempted during Neville's administration, had followed an era of direct conflict with indigenous Australians with regard the theft of cattle and sheep, which were used for food. The political support and funding given to Neville was slight and his capacity to improve their circumstances was restricted. Open hostility was still expressed, in public and parliament, and violence in more remote regions was continuing unabated. Many indigenous peoples became impoverished, especially by forced dislocation with police assistance, as the population and development of the state increased. The Commission was given responsibility for these people, who did not have political rights, and Neville sought to improve the circumstances in which they lived. He failed miserably and there may be evidence that he didn't really try at all. At all times he put the white society and government first before the welfare of those he had the responsibility to protect.
Neville believed that biological absorption was the key to 'uplifting the Native race.' Speaking before the Moseley Royal Commission
, which investigated the administration of Aboriginals in 1934, he defended the policies of forced settlement, removing children from parents, surveillance, discipline and punishment, arguing that
Neville also protested that children had not been removed indiscriminately, insisting that
He published Australia's Coloured Minority, a text outlining his plan for the biological absorption of Aboriginal people into white Australia. The book contained a defence of his policy and an admission that the Aborigines had been harmed by European intervention. For this reason, he said, more must be done to assist them:
with regard the above quote, Neville was right about first Australians dying in these numbers. A majority of them would have occurred while he, and others in all states were commissioners and responsible for native welfare. Many of the natives did know poverty, squalor, ill health, misery, pain and death. Many never knew happiness and A.O. Neville did very little, if anything to change that. SBS in their current first Australian program stated that one of the children in his care had been sent 10pound through the mail. Neville's response was to inform the man that if he continued to claim this child as his, he would have to pay the state almost 1,000 pounds. Of course he wrote back saying he wasn't the father and the money was never passed on to the young girl.
Neville was a notable resident of Darlington
and was a regular user of the Eastern Railway which closed a few months before his death. He died in Perth
, and was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery
.
), and in Jack Davis
' 1985 play, No Sugar
.
Protector of Aborigines
The role of Protectors of Aborigines resulted from a recommendation of the report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on Aborigines . On 31 January 1838, Lord Glenelg, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies sent Governor Gipps the report.The report recommended that Protectors of...
, in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
Early career
Born in NorthumberlandNorthumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Neville immigrated to Victoria, Australia
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
as a child. In 1897 he went from Victoria to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
he and joined the civil service there, quickly rising through the ranks. Neville became the state's second appointment, in 1915, to the role of the Chief Protector of Aborigines. During the next quarter-century, he presided over the controversial policy of removing Aboriginal children from their parents, children who were later termed the Stolen Generation
Stolen Generation
The Stolen Generations were the children of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who were removed from their families by the Australian Federal and State government agencies and church missions, under acts of their respective parliaments...
. More than 25% of Noongah children were confiscated in this way and sent to "concentration-like camps" at Mogumber at Moore River and Carrolup near Katanning.
Commissioner for Native Affairs
In 1936, Neville became the Commissioner for Native Affairs, a post he held until his retirement in 1940.Opposition to this practice was advocated at the time, but his role as Commissioner was never persistently challenged. In 1934, a royal commission was called to examine the current state of Aboriginals with regard his role as commissioner. This ended up giving him more power over the lives of Western Australian Aboriginals which, in turn, only increased their suffering. The period of misguided cultural assimilation
Cultural assimilation
Cultural assimilation is a socio-political response to demographic multi-ethnicity that supports or promotes the assimilation of ethnic minorities into the dominant culture. The term assimilation is often used with regard to immigrants and various ethnic groups who have settled in a new land. New...
, attempted during Neville's administration, had followed an era of direct conflict with indigenous Australians with regard the theft of cattle and sheep, which were used for food. The political support and funding given to Neville was slight and his capacity to improve their circumstances was restricted. Open hostility was still expressed, in public and parliament, and violence in more remote regions was continuing unabated. Many indigenous peoples became impoverished, especially by forced dislocation with police assistance, as the population and development of the state increased. The Commission was given responsibility for these people, who did not have political rights, and Neville sought to improve the circumstances in which they lived. He failed miserably and there may be evidence that he didn't really try at all. At all times he put the white society and government first before the welfare of those he had the responsibility to protect.
Neville believed that biological absorption was the key to 'uplifting the Native race.' Speaking before the Moseley Royal Commission
Moseley Royal Commission
The Moseley Royal Commission, officially titled the Royal Commission Appointed to Investigate, Report and Advise Upon Matters in Relation to the Condition and Treatment of Aborigines was a Government of Western Australia Royal Commission established in 1934 to hear evidence regarding the treatment...
, which investigated the administration of Aboriginals in 1934, he defended the policies of forced settlement, removing children from parents, surveillance, discipline and punishment, arguing that
"they have to be protected against themselves whether they like it or not. They cannot remain as they are. The sore spot requires the application of the surgeon's knife for the good of the patient, and probably against the patient's will."
Neville also protested that children had not been removed indiscriminately, insisting that
"the children who have been removed as wards of the Chief Protector have been removed because I desired to be satisfied that the conditions surrounding their upbringing were satisfactory, which they certainly were not."
He published Australia's Coloured Minority, a text outlining his plan for the biological absorption of Aboriginal people into white Australia. The book contained a defence of his policy and an admission that the Aborigines had been harmed by European intervention. For this reason, he said, more must be done to assist them:
"I make no apologies for writing the book, because there are things which need to be said. So few of our own people as a whole are aware of the position [of the coloured people of Australia]. Yet we have had the coloured man amongst us for a hundred years or more. He has died in his hundreds, nay thousands, in pain, misery and squalor, and through avoidable ill-health. Innumerable little children have perished through neglect and ignorance. The position, in some vital respects, is not much better today than it was fifty years ago. Man is entitled to a measure of happiness in his life. Yet most of these people have never known real happiness. Some are never likely to know it. The causes of their condition are many. Mainly it is not their fault, it is ours, just as it lies with us to put the matter right."
with regard the above quote, Neville was right about first Australians dying in these numbers. A majority of them would have occurred while he, and others in all states were commissioners and responsible for native welfare. Many of the natives did know poverty, squalor, ill health, misery, pain and death. Many never knew happiness and A.O. Neville did very little, if anything to change that. SBS in their current first Australian program stated that one of the children in his care had been sent 10pound through the mail. Neville's response was to inform the man that if he continued to claim this child as his, he would have to pay the state almost 1,000 pounds. Of course he wrote back saying he wasn't the father and the money was never passed on to the young girl.
Neville was a notable resident of Darlington
Darlington, Western Australia
Darlington, Western Australia, is a locality in the Shire of Mundaring on the Darling Scarp, dissected by Nyaania Creek and north of the Helena River.- Location :...
and was a regular user of the Eastern Railway which closed a few months before his death. He died in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, and was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery
Karrakatta Cemetery
Karrakatta Cemetery is a metropolitan cemetery in the suburb of Karrakatta in Perth, Western Australia. Karrakatta Cemetery first opened for burials in 1899, with Robert Creighton. Currently managed by the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board, the cemetery attracts more than one million visitors each...
.
Portrayals
Neville has been portrayed in artistic works as the public face of this policy in the 2002 film Rabbit Proof Fence (played by Kenneth BranaghKenneth Branagh
Kenneth Charles Branagh is an actor and film director from Northern Ireland. He is best known for directing and starring in several film adaptations of William Shakespeare's plays including Henry V , Much Ado About Nothing , Hamlet Kenneth Charles Branagh is an actor and film director from...
), and in Jack Davis
Jack Davis (playwright)
Jack Davis , was a notable Australian 20th Century playwright and poet, also an Indigenous rights campaigner. He was born in Western Australia, in the small town of Yarloop, and lived in Fremantle towards the end of his life. He was of the Aboriginal Noongar people, and much of his work dealt with...
' 1985 play, No Sugar
No Sugar (play)
No Sugar is a play written by Jack Davis which is intended to expose Australian racism. It is a story set during the Great Depression, in Northam, Western Australia, Moore River Native Settlement and Perth...
.
Further reading
- Aboriginal welfare : initial conference of Commonwealth and state Aboriginal authorities held at Canberra, 21 to 23 April, 1937
- South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, Host, John with Owen, Chris, It's still in my heart, this is my country: The Single Noongar Claim History, UWA Press, 2009, ISBN 978 1 921401 42 8