Honorary researcher from the Monash University’s Indigenous Centre, Dr Sue Taffe, will speak at the Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder on the move for equal rights by indigenous Australians in the 1960s and the important role that Kalgoorlie played in this.

The lecture, A Hidden Kalgoorlie, is part of the WA Museum’s Harry Butler: In the Wild West lecture series.

Dr Taffe will recount how a collection of photographs taken in Kalgoorlie during the 1960s depicting Aboriginal families inspired her to unearth the hidden stories of Kalgoorlie’s indigenous inhabitants during this time of change.

“They were posed family group photographs in the manner of the times – parents and children in their best clothes. But they were profoundly different to the middle class images I was used to,” Ms Taffe said.

“This unique collection of photographs tells many stories of the national campaign for Aboriginal people to be given the rights of other Australian citizens.”

After writing Black and White Together, a history of the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (University of Queensland Press, 2005) Dr Taffe began work as researcher and consultant for what became the National Museum of Australia’s exhibition From Little Things Big Things Grow: Campaigning for Aboriginal justice 1920s – 1970s which is on exhibit at the WA Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder until October 9, 2011. She is also the author of a website ‘Collaborating for Indigenous Rights 1957-1973’ which is hosted by the National Museum.

This travelling exhibition from the National Museum of Australia focuses on Indigenous rights and features key moments in Aboriginal activism. It tells the story of a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians who worked together to fight for justice for Aboriginal people, and includes key moments such as the 1938 Day of Mourning and Protest, the 1965 Freedom Ride, the Gurundji ‘walk-off’, and the 1967 Referendum.

Dr Taffe’s public lecture A Hidden Kalgoorlie is to be held on Friday 9 September at 5:30pm, and an exhibition floor talk will be held on Saturday 10 September, 2011 at 12:00noon. Both events will be held at the WA Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

The Harry Butler lecture series: In the Wild West is proudly presented by the WA Museum in partnership with Chevron Australia. The series showcases the work of Museum scientists, curators and associates in the areas of natural and social sciences.

LECTURE: A Hidden Kalgoorlie
WHEN: Friday 9 September 2011, 5:30pm
FLOOR TALK: From Little Things Big Things Grow: Campaigning for Aboriginal justice 1920s – 1970s
WHEN: Saturday 10 September 2011, 12:00noon
WHERE: Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder, 17 Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie.
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL: museum.wa.gov.au/inthewildwest                
COST: By gold coin donation

Flora Perrella, Western Australian Museum  T. 9212 3856   M. 0424 027 646