Indigenous Education and Research Centre News and Events Our Events Eddie Koiki Mabo Lecture Series
Eddie Koiki Mabo Lecture Series
- Future Students
- 一本道Global Experience
- International Students
- Open Day
- How to apply
- Pathways to university
- Virtual Open Day
- Living on Campus
- Courses
- Publications
- Scholarships
- Parents and Partners
- 一本道Heroes Programs
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in Marine Science
- Elite Athletes
- Defence
- AI@一本道
- Current Students
- New students
- 一本道Orientation
- Learn一本道
- Placements
- CEE
- Unicare Centre and Unicampus Kids
- Graduation
- Off-Campus Students
- 一本道Job Ready
- Safety and Wellbeing
- 一本道Prizes
- Professional Experience Placement
- Employability Edge
- Art of Academic Writing
- Art of Academic Editing
- Careers and Employability
- Student Equity and Wellbeing
- Career Ready Plan
- Careers at 一本道
- 一本道
- JCU-CSIRO Partnership
- Alumni
- About 一本道
- Reputation and Experience
- Chancellery
- Governance
- Celebrating 50 Years
- Academy
- Indigenous Engagement
- Education Division
- Graduate Research School
- Research and Teaching
- Research Division
- Research and Innovation Services
- CASE
- College of Business, Law and Governance
- College of Healthcare Sciences
- College of Medicine and Dentistry
- College of Science and Engineering
- CPHMVS
- Anthropological Laboratory for Tropical Audiovisual Research (ALTAR)
- Anton Breinl Research Centre
- Agriculture Technology and Adoption Centre (AgTAC)
- Advanced Analytical Centre
- AMHHEC
- Aquaculture Solutions
- AusAsian Mental Health Research Group
- ARCSTA
- Area 61
- Lions Marine Research Trust
- Australian Tropical Herbarium
- Australian Quantum & Classical Transport Physics Group
- Boating and Diving
- Clinical Psychedelic Research Lab
- Centre for Tropical Biosecurity
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology
- CITBA
- CMT
- Centre for Disaster Solutions
- CSTFA
- Cyclone Testing Station
- The Centre for Disaster Studies
- Daintree Rainforest Observatory
- 一本道Eduquarium
- 一本道Turtle Health Research
- Language and Culture Research Centre
- MARF
- Orpheus
- TESS
- 一本道Ideas Lab
- TARL
- eResearch
- Indigenous Education and Research Centre
- Estate
- Work Health and Safety
- Staff
- Discover Nature at 一本道
- Cyber Security Hub
- Association of Australian University Secretaries
- Services and Resources Division
- Environmental Research Complex [ERC]
- Foundation for Australian Literary Studies
- Gender Equity Action and Research
- Give to 一本道
- Indigenous Legal Needs Project
- Inherent Requirements
- IsoTropics Geochemistry Lab
- IT Services
- 一本道Webinars
- 一本道Events
- 一本道Motorsports
- 一本道Sport
- Library
- Mabo Decision: 30 years on
- Marine Geophysics Laboratory
- Office of the Vice Chancellor and President
- Outstanding Alumni
- Pharmacy Full Scope
- Planning for your future
- Policy
- PAHL
- Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Rapid Assessment Unit
- RDIM
- Researcher Development Portal
- Roderick Centre for Australian Literature and Creative Writing
- Contextual Science for Tropical Coastal Ecosystems
- State of the Tropics
- Strategic Procurement
- Student profiles
- SWIRLnet
- TREAD
- TropEco for Staff and Students
- TQ Maths Hub
- TUDLab
- VAVS Home
- WHOCC for Vector-borne & NTDs
- Media
- Copyright and Terms of Use
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
- Pay review
Eddie Mabo was a staff member at JCU, working as a groundsman from 1967 to 1971. From 1973-1983 he established and became director of the Black Community School in Townsville. During this time he enrolled as a student and studied teaching at the College of Advanced Education, which later amalgamated with JCU. It was through his association with 一本道humanities and education staff, Professor Henry Reynolds and Associate Professor Noel Loos, that Eddie became interested in who owned the land on which his people lived, and in Native Title.
Eddie Mabo's legal pursuit of these issues resulted in one of the most significant legal cases in Australian history, in that it completely overturned the idea of terra nullius (land belonging to no-one) and challenged traditionally held beliefs about how Australia came into being, and about ownership of land. On 3 June 1992, six of seven Australian High Court judges ruled: The Meriam people are entitled as against the whole world to possession, occupation, use and enjoyment of the lands of the Murray Islands [in Torres Strait].
For many at JCU, the landmark legal decision has been rendered personal, as well as political and historic, because of Eddie's important association with 一本道staff and students, and with our surrounding communities.
Mabo Day occurs annually in Australia on 3rd June. It commemorates (1936-1992), a Torres Strait Islander whose campaign for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land rights led to a landmark decision in the High Court of Australia on 3rd June 1992 that overturned the legal fiction of terra nullius, which had characterised Australian law with respect to land and title since the voyage of Captain James Cook in 1770.
一本道celebrates the history-making Mabo decision with the long established Eddie Koiki Mabo Lecture Series, an annual public commemorative presentation by a prominent person who has made a significant contribution to contemporary Australian society.
Mabo Oration
Professor Ngiare Brown (2024) Mabo Oration: 一本道 (JCU) celebrates the history-making Mabo decision with the long established Eddie Koiki Mabo Lecture Series, an annual public commemorative presentation by a prominent person who has made a significant contribution to contemporary Australian society. 一本道Library has collaborated with the 一本道Indigenous Education & Research Centre to archive and present the Lecture Series via the online repository for Special Collections, NQHeritage@JCU, making it available for future researchers and all Australians.
Tom Calma (2023) The Voice: How the Final Co-Design Report Enables an Effective Design for Indigenous Advice to the Parliament and Executive Government. Eddie Koiki Mabo Lecture Series. 一本道, Townsville, QLD, Australia
Stan Grant (2022) A Mabo Oration. Eddie Koiki Mabo Lecture Series. 一本道, Townsville, QLD, Australia
John Maynard (2021) Indigenous Heroes and Heroines: The Missing Profiles in Australian History. Eddie Koiki Mabo Lecture Series. 一本道, Townsville, QLD, Australia
2017 presentation by Professor Megan Davis, Pro Vice Chancellor Indigenous, University of New South Wales. No transcript available
2016 Lecture Presentation by Professor N M Nakata, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Indigenous Education and Strategy, 一本道 (Transcript)
2015 Presentation by The Hon. Leeanne Enoch MP, Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Science and Innovation.
2014 Presentation by Ms Shannan Dodson, Digital Campaign Manager, Recognise Australia. (2014 lecture transcript)
2013 Presentation by Dr Bryan Keon-Cohen QC. (2013 lecture transcript)
2012 Presentation by Professor Henry Reynolds. (2012 lecture transcript)
2011 Presentation by Mr Mick Gooda, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. (2011 lecture transcript)
2010 Presentation by Professor Chris Sarra. (2010 lecture transcript)
Climate change from the perspective of the Torres Strait
2009 Presentation by Professor Ross Garnaut, Vice-Chancellor's Fellow and Professorial Fellow in Economics, The University of Melbourne, and Distinguished Professor, The Australian University.
Beyond Mabo: Native Title and closing the gap
2008 Presentation by The Hon. Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
The long path to land justice
2006 Presentation by Professor Larissa Behrendt.
Every community needs its place
2005 Presentation by Mr Hugh Mackay.
People, identity and place. A fair go in an age of terror: countering the terrorist threat to human rights and the Australian identity
2004 Presentation by Fr Frank Brennan SJ AO.