ISAAR(CPF): International Standard Archival Authority Record for

Final, 1 April 2004
Example 5 - Person description
Language of description: English (Australia)
5.1 IDENTITY AREA
5.1.1 Type of entity Person
5.1.2 Authorized
Mabo, Eddie, 1936-1992
form of name
5.1.5 Other forms
Mabo, Edward Koiki, 1936-1992
of name
5.2 DESCRIPTION AREA
5.2.1 Dates of
existence Dates ISO
8601
1936-1992
1936/1992-01-21
5.2.2 History 29 June 1936 - Born on Mer, the son of Robert Zezou Sambo and
Annie Mabo of the Piadaram clan. Because his mother died in
childbirth, he was adopted under customary law by his uncle Benny
Mabo and aunt Maiga.
1953-57 - Worked on trochus fishing luggers out of Mer.
1957 - Left Mer and moved to the mainland. Worked at various jobs
including canecutter and railway labourer.
1959 - Married Bonita Nehow (born 1943).
1960-61 - Union representative, Townsville-Mount Isa rail
construction project.
1962-67 - Worked for the Townsville Harbour Board.
1962-69 - Secretary, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Advancement League.
1967 - Helped organise seminar in Townsville: 'We the Australians:
What is to Follow the Referendum?'
1967-71 - Worked as gardener-groundsman, James Cook University
1973 - Mabo and family travelled to Thursday Island en route to
Mer with the intention of visiting Mabo's dying father, but were
denied entry to Mer.
1973-83 - Director, Black Community School, Townsville.
1974-78 - Member of the Aboriginal Arts Council.
1975-80 - President, Yumba Meta Housing Association.
1975-78 - Member, National Aboriginal Education Committee.
1978-81 - Assistant Vocational Officer, Aboriginal Employment
and Training Branch Commonwealth Employment Service.
1978-79 - Member, Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies
Education Advisory Committee.
1981-84 - Pursued Diploma of Teaching, Townsville College of
Advanced Education/James Cook University.
1981 - Conference on land rights at James Cook University.
Decision to take the Murray Islanders' land case to the High Court
1982 - Land rights case launched. Plaintiffs were Mabo, Sam Passi,
Father Dave Passi, James Rice and Celuia Mapo Salee.
1986-87 - Director, ABIS Community Cooperative Society Ltd,
Townsville.
1986-87 - Assistant Director, Aboriginal Arts, Melbourne Moomba
Festival.
1987-88 - Employed by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs as
Community Arts Liaison Officer, 5th Festival of Pacific Arts,
Townsville.
1987-88 - Vice-Chairman, Magani Malu Kes.
1988 - High Court ruled the Queensland Coast Islands Declaratory
Act 1985 contrary to the Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act
1975.
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