HERBERT GROVES

WHO

Herbert Groves was an Aboriginal activist who was born on February 4th 1907 at New South Wales. His fathers name was Robert William Groves and his mothers name was Alice Jane. As a child he lived at Gulargambone. He had two wives; Susan Mary Cain and Renate Sofia Schieron. In total he had seven children. He was heavily involved in many organisations and made a huge I act on the Aboriginal community and the 1967 referendum. He died on December 28 1970 in Bankstown from a heart attack.

WHERE

Herbert Groves was born at Walhallow (Caroona) Aboriginal station, New South Wales in 1907 February 4th. Mr. Groves attended Coonamble Public School until Grade 5. He worked as a handyman at Aboriginal reserves at the North-West of New South Wales. Mr. Groves chaired a meeting in Pilliga regarding Aboriginal welfare and was sacked due to this. He then worked for the Public Service Board in Parliament House Canberra. In 1946, Mr Groves demonstrated against a pastoralist in South Australia who had kept Aborigines in chains. Between 1950 and 1954 Mr. Groves was a member of the Aborigines Welfare Board and helped run training courses at the University of Sydney. In 1956 he became the first president of the Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship, formed in Sydney. On the 28th of December 1970 he died of a heart attack in Bankstown.

WHEN

Herbert Groves was born on the 4th of February 1907. In 1927 he met William Ferguson who was setting up a campaign against the oppression of Aboriginal people. In 1937 Mr. Groves chaired a meeting of the Aboriginal Progressive Association regarding the welfare of Aborigines, he was sacked from his job because of this. On the 14th of April 1943 Mr. Groves enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force and served in Australia. He was discharged on the 26th of January 1945. In 1945 Mr. Groves was employed by the Public Service Board in Parliament House. In 1946 Mr. Groves demonstrated against a South Australian pastoralist for keeping Aboriginals on chains. In 1950-1954 he worked as a part time member of the Aboriginals Welfare Board, he fought hard to improve the conditions in which Aboriginals lived in. As a result of Mr. Groves hard work in 1952 he was appointed a justice of the peace.

In 1956 he became the first president of the Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship (formed in Sydney to bring Aborigines and whites together). In 1958 he was a founding member of the Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement. He argued that assimilation implied that it meant the disappearance of Aboriginal culture. This council lead the government to exterminating the policy of assimilation. From 1963 Mr. Groves became president of the strengthened Aborigines Progressive Association and also worked for the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs. In 1967 Mr. Groves had a major victory with the success of his campaign for the 1967 referendum which gave the Commonwealth government power to legislate on Aboriginal rights. On 1969 at Tranby Chapel, Glebe, on the 7th of June 1969 Mr. Groves married 21 year old, German-born Renate Sofia Schieron.

In 1970 he chaired the breakaway section of the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, when some Aborigines decided to form their organisation, the National Tribal Council. In 1970 28th December, he died of a heart attack.

WHAT

In 1907 February 4th Mr. Groves was born. Herbert Groves attended the Coonamble Public School. In 1923 he was apprenticed to a plumber, but found it difficult to work. In 1927 he was engaged by the Aborigines Protection Board as handyman on Bulgandramine Aboriginal Reserve. At about this time he met William Ferguson who was seeking support for his campaign against the oppressive policies of the A.P.B. Soon afterwards Mr. Groves returned with his young new wife Susan Mary Cain to the Walhallow reserve as handyman. At the Walhallow Aboriginal School he took an interest in the health and education of the children and became the president of the parents' and citizens' association.

Agreeing to William Ferguson's request to gather information about discrimination and racism, he seemed and gained employment at Abiriginal reserves in the north-west; he then moved to Pilliga where the A.P.B had a timber-mill and was using cheap Aboriginal labour. Expelled from the boards service for chairing a meeting if the Pilliga branch of the Aborigines Progressive Association ( formed by William Ferguson in 1937), Mr. Groves found work as a truck driver at Coonabarabran. On the 14th of April 1943 Mr. Groves enlisted in the Australian army and served in Australia. Two years later he was discharged and settled in Sydney. He worked as a plumber at Rhodes before being employed by the Public Service Board, Parliament in Canberra. For the rest of his life his real work was Aboriginal Advancement.

He was a key figure in a demonstration against a South Australian farmer, who had been fined one hundred and thirty-five pounds for keeping Aboriginals on chains. In 1950-1954 he was a part time member of the Aborigines Welfare Board; he fought hard to improve the conditions in which Aboriginals lived in on government reserves and stations throughout the State. In 1952 Mr. Groves was awarded a justice of the peace. As Mr. Groves was an accomplished speaker, he was frequently invited to address church and service organisations by Aboriginals, and helped in training courses run by the Department of Tutorial classes at the University if Sydney. In 1956 he became the first president of the Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship Council ( formed in Sydney to bring Aborigines and Whites together).

In 1958 he was a founding member of the Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement. He was president from 1963 of the rejuvenated Aborigines Progressive Association and also worked for the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs. As a trustee of Aboriginal Children's Society, he was tireless in raising money for the Kirinari children hostel at Slyvania Heights and hostel at Newcastle and Manly. The success of the campaign for the 1967 referendum gave the Commenwealth government power to legislate on Aboriginals. This was a major victory for the Aboriginal community and mainly Mr. Groves. In 1970 he chaired the breakaway section of the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders when some Aboriginals decided to form their own organisation, The National Tribal Council. The N.T.C gave Mr. Groves the Aboriginal name "Boodjree Be Angar Goolee ( responsible person).

On the 28th of December 1970 he died of a heart attack.

WHAT SPECIAL SKILLS DID HERBERT GROVES HAVE?

Some special skills that Herbert Groves had were debating and convincing because he was able to convince people to go on his side. For example he had caused a fine of one hundred and thirty- five pounds to a farmer that was hanging Aboriginals on chains. Another special skill was persuading because he was able to become presidents of many organisations. He also had leadership as another special skill because he was in control of many organisations therefore making him a good leader. He was also smart and hard working because he would formulate out many plans and then work very hard on them. For example, when he worked tirelessly to raise money for children. The last special skill is that he was helpful because he would help people out when they urgently needed help. For example when William Ferguson asked him to gather information about discrimination and racism he did.

This is what I think Herbert Groves special skills are.

WOULD HERBERT GROVES BE ADMIRED TODAY?

I think Herbert Groves would be admired today because he made a huge difference to the Indigenous community at the time. He was very intelligent and was in control of many organisations. He was intelligent, helpful, a leader, persuading, convincing, hard working and had great debating skills. This is why I think Herbert Groves would be admired today.

RESOURCES

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• HTTP://AND.ANU.EDU.AU/BIBLIOGRAPHY/GROVES-HERBERT-STANLEY-BERT-10375
• Macmillan Library