Clarrie Isaacs
Clarrie Isaacs JP | |
---|---|
Born | 4 September 1948 |
Died |
26 November 2003 55) Dunsborough, Western Australia | (aged
Resting place | Pinnaroo Cemetery |
Other names |
Yaluritja Ishak Mohamed |
Education | Perth Modern School |
Known for | Activism |
Religion | church of England |
Children | Graham Isaacs, Niaomi Isaacs, Amber Lancaster Isaacs |
Clarence Frederick "Clarrie" Isaacs also known as Yaluritja and Ishak Mohamad Haj (9 April 1948 – 26 November 2003) was an Australian Aboriginal activist.
Life and career
Isaacs attended Perth Modern School where he studied technical drawing. He later attended the Clyde Cameron College in Albury, a union-backed training centre.[1] After converting to Islam Isaacs undertook a pilgrimage to Mecca, earning the right to use the honorific title Haj.[1]
In the early 1990s Isaacs was among a number of activists including Michael Mansell who formed the Aboriginal Provisional Government. At various times Isaacs styled himself as the President of the Aboriginal Government.[2][3][4] Isaacs, with other activists, travelled to Libya using Aboriginal passports issued by a group that later became known as the Aboriginal Provisional Government.[5] Attempting to use the passports on their re-entry to Australia, they were initially refused entry to Australia by immigration officials.[2][6][7][8]
Isaacs was a prominent figure in protests against development of the Swan Brewery site in Perth during the late 1980s.[2] He was also prominent in efforts to return the pickled head of 19th Century Noongar warrior Yagan from Britain.[9]
In 1991 Isaacs was a founding member of the short-lived New Left Party, considered a successor of the Communist Party of Australia.[10] In the 1993 Western Australian state election Isaacs stood for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Fremantle.[11] Isaacs stood as a candidate for Racism No! in the 1996 Western Australian state election for the Legislative Council in the South Metropolitan Region.[12] At the 2001 Australian federal election Isaacs was a candidate for the Australian Senate, however he only received 260 votes.[13]
He served as chairman of the Derbal Yerrigan Health Service and was a Western Australian delegate to the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.[14] Isaacs was a Justice of the Peace.[15]
Isaacs died 26 November 2003 in Dunsborough, Western Australia. He was buried on 12 December 2003 at Pinnaroo Cemetery in Perth.[16][17]
References
- 1 2 "YALURITJA CLARRIE ISAACS (Haj) J.P.". west.com.au. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- 1 2 3 Benbow, Anthony (10 December 2003). "Yaluritja Clarrie Isaacs — a lifetime of activism". Green Left Weekly. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ↑ Isaacs, Clarrie. "Media Statement for the 1996 Australian Federal Elections". Aboriginal Government of Australia. west.com.au. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ↑ "Details of Meetings" (PDF). Australian Senate. Parliament of Australia. p. 39. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ↑ Walker, Antony (21 June 1988). "Libya backs black passports, say Mansell". The Age. Retrieved 12 May 2010 – via Google News Archive.
- ↑ Frail, Rod (30 June 1988). "Mansell group held up in passport hitch". The Age. Google News Archive. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ↑ "Desperate Times". Message Stick. yes. 14 May 2004. ABC Television.
- ↑ Prentis, Malcolm D. (2008). A Concise Companion to Aboriginal History. Rosenberg. pp. 17–18. ISBN 1-877058-62-9.
- ↑ Muecke, Stephen (2004). "Morning Coffee With Clarrie". Ancient & modern: time, culture and indigenous philosophy. Sydney: UNSW Press. pp. 41, 42. ISBN 0-86840-786-0.
- ↑ McDonald, Tom; McDonald, Audrey. Intimate union: sharing a revolutionary life. Pluto Press Australia. p. 358. ISBN 1-86403-051-8.
- ↑ "2009 Fremantle By-election". ABC Elections. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
- ↑ "South Metropolitan Region" (PDF). Western Australian State Election 1996. Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ↑ "Senate Results - First Preference Votes by Candidate - Western Australia". Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ↑ "Aboriginal health sector loses three great friends" (PDF). NACCHO News. National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. February 2004. p. 7. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
- ↑ "List of submissions received by the Committee" (PDF). Standing Committee on Legislation. Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
- ↑ "Aboriginal activist Clarrie Isaacs dies". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 November 2003. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ↑ "Funeral for Indigenous activist". Department of Indigenous Affairs. 3 December 2003. Retrieved 12 May 2010.