Anthony Fernando

Anthony Martin Fernando
Pinned to Anthony Fernando's coat, in front of Australia House (1928) were scores of small, white, toy skeletons and he wore a placard proclaiming: "This is all Australia has left of my people."
Born	(1864-04-06)6 April 1864 Woolloomooloo, New South Wales
Died	9 January 1949(1949-01-09) (aged 84) Ilford, England
Other name	Anthony Martin
Citizenship	British
Occupations	Toy Maker, Political Activist
Known for	Early Aboriginal Australian protests * firm, eloquent overseas campaigning against injustices perpetrated against his people; * petitioning the Pope * picketing Australia House in London * Court Cases & Speeches
Website	http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/AS10160b.htm

Anthony Martin Fernando (6 April 1864 – 9 January 1949) was an early Aboriginal Australian toymaker and early political activist. He is mostly known for his three-year protest outside London's Australia House which ended with his arrest in 1928. During the protest, he wore a cloak decorated with white toy skeletons.

Biography

Fernando was born in Woolloomooloo, New South Wales as a member of the Dharug nation. He spent most of his life in "self-imposed" exile, overseas, protesting and publicising the injustices inflicted upon himself, his people, and Aboriginal Australians generally:

...'his long grey beard damp with mist, his frail elderly frame wrapped in a large overcoat'. Pinned to his coat were scores of small, white, toy skeletons and he wore a placard proclaiming: 'This is all Australia has left of my people'

He died in the East London town of Ilford on 9 January 1949.

On-line newspaper articles

• ""A JOKE." - Anthony Martin Fernando, an Australian aboriginal, had arrived at Berne seeking support for .. a certain district in North Australia .. being reserved for aborigines". The Brisbane Courier. 30 June 1921. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
• ""NOT SAVAGES. ABORIGINAL'S PLEA. TREATMENT BY WHITES DENOUNCED." - Anthony Martin Fernando (aged 65 years), toy hawker, an aboriginal, born near Sydney, was remanded for a month at the Old Bailey". The Brisbane Courier. 2 February 1929. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
• ""FARMER COMES TO HIS AID: ELDERLY BLACK IN COURT"." - The intervention of an elderly Essex farmer saved an Australian aborigine, Anthony Fernando, aged 73 years .. from being sent to prison. '". The Argus. 21 January 1938. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
• Steve Meacham, "Aboriginal activist campaigned in Europe 100 years ago", Sydney Morning Herald, May 27, 2012.

External links

• Browning, Daniel (15 July 2007) "Fernando's Ghost", Hindsight, ABC Radio NationalAccessed 30 May 2010.
• "Fernando's Ghost" - Transcript, SOVEREIGN UNION - National Unity Government, "Sovereign Union" - Asserting Aboriginal Sovereignty into Governance.
• Goodall, Heather (1988) "Aboriginal Calls for Justice: Learning from History" Aboriginal Law Bulletin No. 37 Accessed 30 May 2010.
• National Museum of Australia "From Little Things Big Things Grow: Fighting for Indigenous Rights 1920–1970" Exhibition – including artist's impression of Anthony Martin Fernando Accessed 30 May 2010.
• Paisley, Fiona "Into self-imposed exile" Griffith REVIEW Edition 6: Our Global Face Accessed 30 May 2010.
• Paisley, Fiona "Hidden Story Behind a Portrait (of Anthony Martin Fernando)" National Museum of AustraliaAccessed 30 May 2010.
• THE STORY OF AM FERNANDO, Radio National, Late Night Live, 23 May 2012.

Further reading

• Fiona Paisley, The Lone Protestor - A M Fernando in Australia and Europe. Aboriginal Studies Press, 2012.