William Ferguson, father of Indigenous Australia’s struggle for recognition, is remembered

William Ferguson was an Indigenous rights activist and supporter, pamphleteer, shearer and trade union official.

He founded the Aborigines’ Progressive Association in Dubbo on June 27, 1937, drafted farsighted resolutions, lobbied government for Indigenous citizen rights and organised a day of mourning conference in Sydney on January 26, 1938 - the 150th anniversary of the landing of the First Fleet in Australia.

The day of mourning led to the formation of the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee and the establishment of NAIDOC Week.

Ferguson’s 70-year-old grandson Willie said NAIDOC celebrations recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievement.

“The celebrations are also an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions Indigenous Australians have made to our country and society,” he said.

“This NAIDOC Week I would encourage people to think about my grandfather and the important work he did.

“Older people remember William (Bill) Ferguson as a strong voice fighting for the rights of workers in shearing sheds. As a unionist and staunch Labor man he spoke out for all workers - black and white.

“He was particularly concerned about the raw deal received by Aboriginal people.

“The younger generation are the future and they need to know how NAIDOC Week started.”

Willie Ferguson would like to see a statue honouring his grandfather positioned near the roundabout at the intersection of Myall Street and Wheelers Lane.

“Grandfather is buried just up the road at the Old Dubbo Cemetery,” he said.

“A statue and a plaque would be a fitting tribute to a man who truly was a legend in Australia.

“William Ferguson is an important part of Australia’s history. He lived and worked in Dubbo and should not be forgotten.”

Eighty-six-year-old Ray Peckham shares Willie’s enthusiasm.

Ray was a boy when William Ferguson organised the inaugural meeting of the NSW branch of the Aborigines’ Association in Sydney with the aim of obtaining full citizenship for Indigenous people, Aboriginal representation in parliament and the abolition of the NSW Aborigines’ Protection Board.

“My father Tom Peckham and Tom Carney were William Ferguson’s moral and financial backers. He was a great man.

“I was nine years old when my father and other family members attended the Day of Mourning in Sydney.

“It was a protest against the white invasion and the callous treatment of Aboriginal people.

“For us Australia Day is still about the loss of country, freedom and self-determination.

“Indigenous people are still waiting for full citizen status and equality.”

Willie said he was proud of his grandfather but disappointed so few had followed in his footsteps.

“I would love to see our people marching again as a protest against government and the loss of our land,” he said.

“We have land in different places but what has been given to us is mostly dead land. “Young people need to get more agitated like the old fellas did. I’d like to take a group of kids to a march or an event where our people are talking.

“A lot of knowledge will be lost when Ray goes and I go. We need to educate and inspire a new generation. If we can’t get them educated and off the drugs the young people will be going nowhere.

“I saw the plane that wrote the word sorry in the sky on Sorry Day but that smoke only lasted an hour.

“Indigenous Australia got nothing out of Sorry Day. The constitution still hasn’t been changed.”

Ray Peckham said he would like to see the constitution shredded and burned. “It came from England and is outmoded,” he said.

“We’ve got men and women with the capabilities, education and expertise to sit down with any committee or organisation to draft a new constitution recognising Aboriginal people as the first Australians.

“We deserve full citizenship. Things need to change. People need to do some serious thinking.”