March4Justice Rally

Tens of thousands of people turned out today, Monday lunchtime, at Sydney Town Hall, Gadigal land, to protest against sexual violence, rape and misogyny.

Similar ‘March4Justice’ campaigns unfolded across the country today, as outrage grew against continuing gendered violence, including the recent sexual assault allegations in Canberra’s Parliament House.

The Sydney protest marched through the city, ending with more speeches outside the NSW state Parliament House.

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Youth Survivors Speak Out - Stop Sexual Assault

In light of the ongoing sexual assault scandals which have rocked federal Parliament, around 150 mostly young people turned out to Sydney Town Hall this afternoon to demand an end to misogyny, sexual assault and rape.

The speakers, some of whom were high school students, told harrowing stories of sexual assault and called for the sacking of current Attorney General, Christian Porter, who is embroiled in accusations that he raped a 16 year old woman in 1988, Defence Minister, Linda Reynolds, whose handling of an alleged rape in her office has been widely condemned, and the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, who has overseen the response to these scandals.

The protesters marched from Town Hall to the Liberal Party headquarters on William Street.

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Sydney Mardi Gras 2021 - Take Over Oxford Street

Around 3,000 people turned up at Oxford Street today for a counter-corporate Mardi Gras and to march for LGBTQIA+ rights.

The annual Sydney Mardi Gras traditionally marches up Oxford Street but this year, because of COVID-19 concerns, it was held at a ticketed event at the Sydney Cricket Ground. There has been a groundswell of discontent in recent times about the increasing corporatisation of Mardi Gras, which had its origin in 1978 as a community protest against police brutality against gays and lesbians. Since then, it has grown into a multi-million dollar event with sponsorship from big business and mainstream political parties.

Today’s protest followed the route of the original 1978 march, from Taylor Square, down Oxford Street, to Hyde Park and brought to light LGBTQIA+ rights, Aboriginal deaths in custody, black lives matter, and refugee issues. It also demanded the abolition of discriminatory state government legislation brought on by One Nation’s Mark Latham. The march was given a late exemption yesterday to COVID-19 related health orders by the courts. A large police presence was in force throughout the day.

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17 YEARS, NO JUSTICE: THE TJ HICKEY CAMPAIGN

Protest of the 17th anniversary of TJ Hickey’s death at the Waterloo flats where he was killed during a police pursuit in 2004.

About 200 people attended the rally which began at the incident site of TJ’s death, and marched to Prince Alfred Park, led by TJ’s mother, Gail, and her family.

A heavy police presence was in attendance, as there has been every year for the last 17 years during these annual rallies.

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Grandmothers Against Removal (GMAR) Rally

Photographs of today’s Grandmothers Against Removal (GMAR) rally at Hyde Park.

GMAR is a self-organised group of Aboriginal grandmothers and mothers who advocate against the forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families by government departments.

Since Prime Minister Rudd’s apology for the so-called ‘Stolen Generation’ in 2008, there have been claims of a 400% increase in removal of Aboriginal children from their families. GMAR assert that the Stolen Generation has never ceased and that it continues today.

Of specific focus today, was the case of an Aboriginal mother whose children were removed to a foster home and then taken to the UK last year, where the (English) foster family now intends to once again reside. GMAR are calling for the return of the children to Australia and ultimately back to their mother.

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Remembering Patrick Fisher 3 Years On - Memorial

Family and friends of Patrick Fisher gathered at the public housing commission flats this morning in Waterloo to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of his death, when he fell from the 13th floor after police broke into the apartment where he was staying, in an attempt to arrest him.

A coronial inquest made no findings against police, after a hearing that was supposed to have run five days, only ran for three.

Present today was Patrick Fisher’s mother, Candy, partner Carly, children and other relatives.

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Remembering Patrick Fisher 3 Years On

A pigeon flies overhead as Candice Williams looks to the heavens outside the Waterloo flats where her son, Waka Waka man, Patrick Fisher, fell to his death three years ago, after police broke into a 13th floor apartment where Fisher was staying.

More photos to come….

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Sisters in Arms

Warlpiri woman and NITV journalist, Rachael Hocking with Gomeroi Yinaar activist and educator, Gwenda Stanley, at yesterday’s Invasion Day rally, Gadigal.

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Invasion Day 2021, Djarrbarrgalli, Gadigal Country,

Images from today’s Invasion Day Rally, at Djarrbarrgalli, Gadigal Country.


In stifling conditions, the rally drew an estimated 5,000-10,000 people. Despite COVID-safety measures in place, a heavy police presence was on hand. The planned march through the CBD was called off after threats from authorities to enforce public health orders, including arrest and fines.


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VIGIL - Sydney Festival

Photographs from last night’s ‘Vigil’ as part of Sydney Festival. The event celebrates the survival, resilience and richness of Aboriginal culture, despite the arrival of British colonisers 233 years ago.

The event was the last of Wesley Enoch’s 5 year tenure as director of Sydney Festival and was hosted by Karla Grant.

Performers, in order of appearance, included:

  • Matthew Doyle & Dancers & Jannawi

  • Yvonne Weldon (Welcome to Country)

  • Bangarra Dance Theatre with Dean Widders and others including Adam Goodes and Stan Grant

  • Luke Currie-Richardson

  • Emma Donovan

  • Rayma Johnson, Andrea Adidi and Henrietta Baird

  • The Coolamon Dancers

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NSW Police Officer with Thin Blue Line Insignia

A NSW police officer was today photographed openly wearing a ‘Thin Blue Line’ insignia outside the Sydney Cricket Ground as the First Test Match between India and Australia was about to begin, and as riots on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. rocked the world.

The Thin Blue Line symbol has its origins in the USA and has been co-opted by Trump supporters and far-right extremists both in the USA and Australia. It has been debated as to whether the Thin Blue Line represents a white supremacist ideology, or just a symbol of support for police.

In Queensland, a police officer was also photographed wearing a US version of the Thin Blue Line on his uniform during a Black Lives Matter protest in September last year, while there have been allegations that a police officer in Sydney flashed a far-right gesture at another protest in June. In Victoria, there have also been instances of police displaying far-right imagery and symbols, amongst concerns the force has a far-right problem within its ranks.

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Djiriba Waagura - Welcome to Country

Helensburgh Little Dam Jumpers

Teenaged boys take a break from school over the summer holidays at what they call ‘Little Dam’, Helensburgh, just south of Sydney.

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Vale Jonny Lewis

Jonny Lewis, one of Australia’s foremost photographers, passed away on Sunday, aged 70.

This shot of Jonny was taken at Redfern Park during a commemoration for Black Diggers on ANZAC Day, 2017.

Jonny was always encouraging to me - an observant, smart, empathetic, witty and highly skilled photographer. His work and memory lives on.

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Djiriba Waagura at Black Markets

Djiriba Waagura dance group perform at Blak Markets on Bare Island, La Parouse, Bidjigal country.

Shot on a Leica M6TTL, Kodak, Tri-X, black and white 35mm film.

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Tribute to Aunty Bowie Hickey

Bowie Hickey, Gamilaroi matriarch, grandmother, mother, aunty and activist, has passed on.

Pictured here speaking at the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy at The Block in 2015 (with the late Ray Jackson, far right).

Vale.

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^Permission by Aunt Bowie’s family was given to post this image.

Gamil Means No: Rally Against Santos Gas Mines On Gomeroi Land

Around 200 people gathered yesterday at Sydney’s Martin Place, Gadigal, to protest against the drilling of up to 850 coal seam gas wells in the Pilliga forest on Gomeroi-Gamilaraay land in north-western New South Wales.

The wells will be drilled directly above the Great Artesian Basin, the largest artesian basin in the world and the largest fresh water supply in Australia.

The massive gas project was recently approved by the Federal Government and will be drilled by gas giant, Santos.

Traditional owners, the Gomeroi-Gamilaraay people, oppose the project, fearing cultural and environmental devastation, the destruction of sacred sites and the poisoning of the water table. Environmentalists and farmers also have grave concerns for the impact of the gas field.

Yesterday’s rally marched through the city to Sydney Town Hall where speeches were made. The protest was organised by Gamilaraay Next Generation and was part of a nationwide action, ‘Gamil Means No’.

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TJ Hickey e-Petition to Launch

Gail Hickey and her grandson, TJ (jnr), stand at the site in Redfern-Waterloo where Gail’s son, TJ (snr), was killed during a police pursuit in 2004.

These photographs were taken ahead of a new e-petition to be launched demanding a parliamentary inquiry into TJ Hickey’s death, after a previous petition failed to gain parliamentary support earlier this year.

Gail Hickey and her family gathered at the Waterloo Housing Estate on Saturday to mark the launch of the new petition, again demanding justice for TJ, more than 16 years after his death.

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