Aboriginal Law Bulletin --- "Update: Trial Observers; Aboriginal Graduates from University of New South Wales; Independent Education Institution; Jervis Bay Threatened" [1989] AboriginalLawB 21; (1989) 1(38) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 2

• News
• Trial Observers
• Aboriginal Graduates From University Of New South Wales
• Independent Education Institution
• Jervis Bay Threatened

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News

Trial Observers

The Australian Section of the International Commission of Jurists occasionally sends observers to significant trials in countries within the region. The observers subsequently report on any significant departures from principles and procedures of "rule of law" / human rights apparent in the trial.

The ICJ (AS) is also prepared to send observers to trials raising such issues within Australia, particularly trials concerning Aboriginal people. If anyone has a case which might merit an observer, contact Garth Nettheim on [phone]. It will be helpful to provide adequate advance notice and sufficient particulars of the case to permit the ICJ (AS) to arrange for a suitable person, adequately briefed, to attend the trial.

Aboriginal Graduates from University of New South Wales

Congratulations to Kevin Kitchener who is the latest Aboriginal person to graduate in Law from the University of NSW. Kevin, who is the eighth Aboriginal law graduate from the University, is currently employed with the Anti-Discrimination Board. Other graduates are involved in various types of legal work. Two have returned to Darwin where one is a barrister and the other is a legal officer in the Department of Law. In NSW there are graduates at the bar, working as solicitors, and with the Aboriginal Legal Service. One graduate is a magistrate.

Among students admitted under the University's Aboriginal admission scheme there has always been a strong preference for law. Currently there are fifteen Aboriginal students enrolled in law at the University, of whom three expect to graduate this year.

Kevin Kitchener and the staff of the University's Aboriginal Education Program are currently attempting to locate all Aboriginal graduates from the University in order to; form an Aboriginal graduates association.

Bill Adams

Independent Education Institution

The director of Tranby Co - Operative College, Alan Lui has been appointed General Director of an independent Education Institution in Townsville, His appointment begins on the 16th of July.

The Institution hopes to cater for 10 - 15,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth aged from 15 - 25 by mid - 1990.

Mr. Lui hopes the institution at the same time as it provides an education will serve as an instrument for the Torres Strait Islanders cultural self - preservation, auto - centric development, self reliance and develop students political consciousness. Mr. Lui hopes the institution will enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth to re - enter their communities with new skills while preserving current traditions, and understandings of their own culture and identity.

The institution is modelled on other independent institutions already established in Australia and other parts of the world. Such institutions include, The Federated College of Canada, that caters for Canadian Indians, the

University of Port Moresby, Tranby Aboriginal Co - operative and the

independent Aboriginal College in Alice Springs.

Suganthi Singarayar

Jervis Bay Threatened

Beecroft Peninsula is considered to be the birthplace of 13 Aboriginal clans from the NSW coast. It contains many Aboriginal sites, including ceremonial grounds and rock art sites.

The area is also a naval bombardment range; where military exercises such as the planned 'Tasmanlink' include the bombing of land targets in Beecroft.

Local Aborigines have never accepted the military base and are outraged by exercises such as 'Tasmanlink' which further damage the land and could effect their sites. A member of the Jerrinja community, Mrs. Delia Lowe said that the whole of Beecroft is 'a powerful dreaming place' and that all the sites are connected. Damage to one part would mean that the whole site is damaged.

Conservationists have joined Aborigines in calling for the area to be made into a national park and in opposing the moving of the navy fleet base from Sydney Harbour to Jervis Bay