Gary Foley
Encyclopedia
Gary Foley is an Australian Aboriginal Gumbainggir activist, academic, writer and actor (he eschews Australian nationality). He is best known for his role in establishing the Aboriginal Tent Embassy
in Canberra
in 1972 and for establishing an Aboriginal Legal Service in Redfern
in the 1970s. Foley also co-wrote and acted in the first indigenous Australian stage production, ''Basically Black.
Foley was born Gary Edward Foley in 1950 in Grafton
and spent much of his childhood in Nambucca Heads. He was expelled from school on the basis of race at the age of 15 and arrived in Redfern in 1967 as an apprentice draftsman and became involved in the "black power" movement active in that suburb.
Foley played an active role in organising protests against the Springboks
in 1971 as a result of the Apartheid policies in South Africa
. At one stage, Foley and fellow protester Billy Craigie were arrested for wearing Springbok jerseys outside the team motel in Bondi Junction
with the police believing they had been stolen when they had been supplied by former Wallaby
Jim Boyce. As a result of the level of protests against the Springboks, an Australian tour by the South African cricket team
later that year was cancelled and the two-decade exile of South African sporting teams commenced.
Foley co-founded the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in 1972 outside Parliament House
to highlight Aboriginal disadvantage. The Tent Embassy is still in place despite ongoing controversy and has been nominated for the heritage list. It helped raise the profile of Aboriginal issues prior to the election of the Whitlam
Government. He was also involved in the formation of the Aboriginal Legal Service in Redfern and the Aboriginal Medical Service in Melbourne and Sydney.
He also co-wrote and appeared in Basically Black, the first Aboriginal stage production in 1972. In 1978, he was part of a group that took Aboriginal films to the Cannes Film Festival
and then to other parts of Europe. He also starred in the film Backroads (1977), appeared in Dogs in Space
and made guest appearances on television shows A Country Practice
and The Flying Doctors
.
held in 1982. He was the first indigenous director of the Aboriginal Arts Board of the Australia Council
between 1983 and 1986 and held other leadership positions in the Aboriginal community. In 1988, he organised Aboriginal protests against the Australian Bicentenary
in 1988 before becoming a consultant to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
.
until April 2005, when he resigned in protest over the Dja Dja Wurrung barks scandal. Foley is currently completing a doctorate at the University of Melbourne
, where until 2008 he was also a lecturer and tutor before resigning in protest at the University's apparent lack of commitment to Indigenous education. Foley also maintains the Kooriweb site on Aboriginal history and was formerly a senior lecturer at Swinburne University
. Foley is currently lecturing and tutoring at Victoria University
.
Gary Foley recently participated in the Melbourne Free University
project.
Aboriginal Tent Embassy
The Aboriginal Tent Embassy is a controversial semi-permanent assemblage claiming to represent the political rights of Australian Aborigines. It is made of a large group of activists, signs, and tents that reside on the lawn of Old Parliament House in Canberra, the Australian capital...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
in 1972 and for establishing an Aboriginal Legal Service in Redfern
Redfern, New South Wales
Redfern is an inner-city suburb of Sydney. Redfern is 3 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney...
in the 1970s. Foley also co-wrote and acted in the first indigenous Australian stage production, ''Basically Black.
Early years and 1970s activism
Grafton, New South Wales
The city of Grafton is the commercial hub of the Clarence River Valley. Established in 1851, Grafton features many historic buildings and tree-lined streets. Located approximately 630 kilometres north of Sydney and 340 km south of Brisbane, Grafton and the Clarence Valley can be reached...
and spent much of his childhood in Nambucca Heads. He was expelled from school on the basis of race at the age of 15 and arrived in Redfern in 1967 as an apprentice draftsman and became involved in the "black power" movement active in that suburb.
Foley played an active role in organising protests against the Springboks
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
in 1971 as a result of the Apartheid policies in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. At one stage, Foley and fellow protester Billy Craigie were arrested for wearing Springbok jerseys outside the team motel in Bondi Junction
Bondi Junction, New South Wales
Bondi Junction is an eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bondi Junction is located 6 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the Waverley....
with the police believing they had been stolen when they had been supplied by former Wallaby
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
Jim Boyce. As a result of the level of protests against the Springboks, an Australian tour by the South African cricket team
South African cricket team
The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...
later that year was cancelled and the two-decade exile of South African sporting teams commenced.
Foley co-founded the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in 1972 outside Parliament House
Parliament House, Canberra
Parliament House is the meeting facility of the Parliament of Australia located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. The building was designed by Mitchell/Giurgola Architects and opened on 1988 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia...
to highlight Aboriginal disadvantage. The Tent Embassy is still in place despite ongoing controversy and has been nominated for the heritage list. It helped raise the profile of Aboriginal issues prior to the election of the Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
Government. He was also involved in the formation of the Aboriginal Legal Service in Redfern and the Aboriginal Medical Service in Melbourne and Sydney.
He also co-wrote and appeared in Basically Black, the first Aboriginal stage production in 1972. In 1978, he was part of a group that took Aboriginal films to the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
and then to other parts of Europe. He also starred in the film Backroads (1977), appeared in Dogs in Space
Dogs in Space
Dogs in Space is a 1986 Australian film set in the "little band scene" in Melbourne in 1978. It was directed by Richard Lowenstein and starred Michael Hutchence as Sam, the drug-addled frontman of the fictitious band from which the film takes its name....
and made guest appearances on television shows A Country Practice
A Country Practice
A Country Practice is an Australian television drama series. One of the longest-running of its kind, produced by James Davern of JNP Productions, it ran on the Seven Network for 1,058 episodes from 18 November 1981 to 22 November 1993. It was produced in ATN-7's production facility at Epping,...
and The Flying Doctors
The Flying Doctors
The Flying Doctors is an Australian drama series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday lifesaving efforts of the real Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia....
.
Activist during the 1980s
Foley set up the first Aboriginal Information Centre in London. On returning to Australia, he organised protests against the Brisbane Commonwealth Games1982 Commonwealth Games
The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 30 September–9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium , in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the venue which was used for the athletics and archery competitions during the...
held in 1982. He was the first indigenous director of the Aboriginal Arts Board of the Australia Council
Australia Council
The Australia Council, informally known as the Australia Council for the Arts, is the official arts council or arts funding body of the Government of Australia.-Function:...
between 1983 and 1986 and held other leadership positions in the Aboriginal community. In 1988, he organised Aboriginal protests against the Australian Bicentenary
Australian Bicentenary
The bicentenary of Australia was celebrated in 1970 on the 200th anniversary of Captain James Cook landing and claiming the land, and again in 1988 to celebrate 200 years of permanent European settlement.-1970:...
in 1988 before becoming a consultant to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody studied and reported on the high level of deaths of Aboriginal people whilst in custody after being arrested or convicted of committing crimes. This included suicide, natural causes, medical conditions and injuries caused by police...
.
Academic career
Gary Foley completed a Bachelor of Arts at Melbourne University in 2000 before completing a First Class Honours Degree in 2002. In 2001, he was appointed Senior Curator at Museum VictoriaMuseum Victoria
Museum Victoria is an organisation which operates three major state-owned museums in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; these are: the Melbourne Museum, the Immigration Museum and Scienceworks. It also manages the Royal Exhibition Building and a storage facility in Melbourne's City of Moreland.Museum...
until April 2005, when he resigned in protest over the Dja Dja Wurrung barks scandal. Foley is currently completing a doctorate at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, where until 2008 he was also a lecturer and tutor before resigning in protest at the University's apparent lack of commitment to Indigenous education. Foley also maintains the Kooriweb site on Aboriginal history and was formerly a senior lecturer at Swinburne University
Swinburne University of Technology
Swinburne University of Technology is an Australian public dual sector university based in Melbourne, Victoria. The institution was founded by the Honourable George Swinburne in 1908 and achieved university status in June 1992...
. Foley is currently lecturing and tutoring at Victoria University
Victoria University, Australia
Victoria University is a multi-sector tertiary institution based in Melbourne, Australia with 10 campuses.VU offers qualifications in higher education, vocational education , and short courses...
.
Gary Foley recently participated in the Melbourne Free University
Melbourne Free University
The Melbourne Free University is an alternative university created in Melbourne in 2009.-Principles:]The Melbourne Free University is committed to radical equality...
project.