NAIDOC 2014

When: Monday 7 July 2014. 

Type: Talk. 

This NAIDOC event discussed a range of topics relating to the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in WWI, including how to access records for family research.

The speakers included:

• Melissa Jackson, part of the Indigenous Services team at the Library. Melissa gave an insight into the experiences of Indigenous soldiers who served in the Boer War (1889-1902).  
• Paul Wood demonstrated how most records relating to WWI are kept with the National Archives of Australia. Paul also explained how to access Indigenous war records in cultural institutions.
• Tony Griffiths shared with the public his deep research on Douglas Grant story, Australia’s only known Aboriginal WWI POW. 
• Philippa Scarlett, Canberra-based historian, recently released, ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Volunteers for the AIF : The Indigenous Response to WWI’ (2012), our most comprehensive, illustrated record of Aboriginal Soldiers in WWI.
• Noeline Briggs-Smith, local historian and Elder, discussed the experiences of Kamilaroi (North-Western NSW) men who served with the AIF in WWI.