Lesley Williams Talk – first claimant of Stolen Wages

Balaangala Community Group invites you to an afternoon with Lesley Williams, discussing the story of unpaid wages and the ongoing fight for justice. Lesley is a respected Murri elder and award-winning author.

$15 adult, $5 concession, Elders no charge

All proceeds donated to ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation.)

Nullagundi Centre 6 School Road, The Gap Q 4061 Car parking for the Nullagundi Centre is via a boom gated carpark on Waterworks Road.

Bookings: balaangalathegap@gmail.com

Imagine if the government told your employer to pay you a quarter of your wages and to place the rest in a government-controlled fund. This goes on for decades. Eventually, the government stops taking your wages, but when you apply to get what’s owed, you’re told the records have been lost and there’s not enough proof you are owed wages from a lifetime of work. This scenario happened in Queensland, not just to one person, but to thousands of people. From the 1890’s to the early 1970’s, the Queensland government managed the wages and savings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers who were controlled under the Protection Act. After being moved off their land and often institutionalised, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women were forced to work in both private and public employment while their money was kept in trust by the State. Most people never received their wages. Lesley Williams has been involved in the campaign for the return of these “Stolen Wages” for over two decades. Lesley was forced to leave Cherbourg Aboriginal Settlement and her family at a young age to work as a domestic servant. Apart from some pocket money, Lesley didn’t get paid. She was told her wages were being “kept safe”. She never received what was owed. Lesley is a respected Elder who was involved in instigating the domestic and international Justice for Aboriginal Workers campaign. Lesley and her daughter Tammy are the authors of “Not Just Black and White” which won the David Unapion prize. Everyone is welcome to attend to hear Lesley speak about a part of our history that is largely unknown and that has happened in our lifetimes. Numbers are limited. Bookings: balaangalathegap@gmail.com