Queensland Organisations and Activists

Daisy Marchisotti

Born in 1904, Daisy Marchisotti, developed an interest in left-wing politics in the 1940s. She eventually joined the Communist Party and in the 1950s gave up a better-paying job as a stenographer to work for the party. In 1964 she was part of a CPA women's delegation to the Soviet Union.

Marchisotti took an active interest in indigenous affairs and was involved with QCAATI and FCAATSI. She edited the Federal Council's newsletter and wrote articles on indigenous issues for FCAATSI and the CPA.

In 1982 she was still fighting for Aboriginal rights.

After being arrested for joining an Aboriginal protest outside the Commonwealth Games venue in Brisbane, she told the magistrate: "I am seventy-eight years old and a pensioner. I did not take part in my action lightly. [It was] my belief that the only way to change Queensland's racist laws was to take the action I did."

Cairns Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders' Advancement League (CATSIAL)

Formed in 1958 under the auspices of the Cairns Trades and Labor Council by Joe McGinness, Gladys O'Shane, Harold Jackson, Ruth Wallace, Muriel Callope and others, CATSIAL worked closely with local trade unions to fight racism in North Queensland. It was one of the few indigenous rights organisations in Australia at the time to have a predominantly indigenous membership. The League affiliated to the Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement in 1960 but continued to campaign under its own banner on a range of issues. It took up individual cases of racial mistreatment and agitated against the state's Aboriginals Preservation and Protections Act. In 1963 the League launched a campaign for the payment of equal wages to indigenous workers as well as direct payment of wages, a claim it took direct to the Queensland Premier in 1964. CATSIAL's activism around this cause quickly won support from trade unions, with the Queensland Trades and Labor Council adopting a firm policy in 1963 in favour of equal wages in the pastoral industry.

Queensland Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres [Strait] Islanders (QCAATI)

In response to moves to form a Federal Council, non-indigenous feminist and social justice campaigner Ada Bromham brought together Queensland activists from existing indigenous organisations to form QCAATI in 1958. It immediately affiliated to the federal body and effectively acted as its state branch. In 1961 QCAATSI split when some members, critical of the council's orientation to political campaigning, accused it of falling under communist influence and moved to have it disbanded. When this failed the critics resigned and formed the One People of Australia League, a conservative organisation that adhered to assimilationist ideas. After the split Kath Walker was elected QCAATI secretary. Its active members included Daisy Marchisotti, Kathy Cochrane, Celia Smith and novelist and poet Rodney Hall. The Council enjoyed a good relationship with CATSIAL, the labour movement and many community groups, and worked closely with the federal body on matters of national concern. In the long campaign for constitutional reform it was the leading body at state level but took an inclusive approach, participating in committees with other organisations and individuals, including Betty Anderson from Abschol and Jim Hamilton from OPAL.

....    Kath Walker    ....    Daisy Marchisotti    ....    Joe McGinness

 

 

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