Fighting Hard

This book tells a history of the Aborigines Advancement League, the oldest Aboriginal organisation in Australia. As both a welfare and activist body, the League can be seen as the 'mother' of all Aboriginal Victorian community organisations, having spawned a diverse range of organisations. The League influenced the fight for civil rights and took a stand against the government's assimilation policy. Its activism with government and the United Nations predates the better known Tent Embassy and provided a Victorian, national and international perspective on Aboriginal affairs. Begun as a coalition of all Australians, in 1969 a black power takeover changed its management to Aboriginal community control -- something which was managed peacefully and fruitfully. Its national significance is marked by the League's leadership where, from the 1970s, many community heroes became role models for Aboriginal youth. Over the years the League has proven that despite the pervasive mythology, Aboriginal people can successfully govern their own organisations. In particular, the League has proven its capacity for managing good governance while maintaining Aboriginal cultural values.