Thomas Mayo may be quietly spoken, but he certainly has a lot to share.
Taking the next step and moving forward in the fight for justice, fairness and equality for First Nations people will be the focus of conversation for Thomas Mayo when he appears for an informal gathering at the Armidale Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place (ACCKP) on June 7.
The community event, which has been put together by ACCKP and local reconciliation group ANTaR, will be held in place of the annual Bridge Walk. The walk is usually held in Reconciliation Week in May, but had to be cancelled this year due to site works.
For the past 15 years the Bridge Walk has been an integral event on the Armidale calendar, bringing the community together to support reconciliation and justice for First Nations people.
So, this is an opportunity to come together in the spirit of the Bridge Walk at ACCKP and share a moment with a man who is a strong advocate and passionate about Indigenous rights.
You may have been lucky enough to see Thomas a couple of years ago, when he was last in Armidale as part of the Yes Campaign. He remembers the visit fondly and can’t wait to mix with the community again and speak about positive ways to make a difference.
“I’m really looking forward to it because I met some really lovely people when I have been there before,” Thomas said.
“It will be a great chance to catch up with a whole lot of people and also be reunited with supporters and people that volunteered in the campaign.”
“I’ll be sharing with those who come along, my thoughts on how we move forward.”
“I’ve spent a lot of time writing since the referendum. Initially I took a couple of months off and then got stuck into writing my latest book, which is called Always Was, Always Will Be, the campaign for justice and recognition continues, which is a forward looking guide on how to be hopeful despite the outcome and the reasons why we need to continue to campaign and what people can do.”
While years of hard work went into the referendum, Thomas doesn’t want to dwell on the results, instead he wants to keep tracking forward with the potential of what is still to come.
“Obviously, there’s important lessons that we can take from it, but it’s happened now and it’s about moving forward,” Thomas said.
“Indigenous people have been told no for every step forward we have ever taken.”
“We not only went through massacres and forced assimilation and through stolen generations, but we didn’t even have a right to vote, we couldn’t buy property and we weren’t paid the same as non-indigenous people.”
“Every time we first asked to change those things about who we are, we were always told no first. And over time those no’s were turned into yeses. So, I’ll be reminding people that momentum is actually still with us and it’s not unusual to be told no to something that is fair and just that eventually Australians will take for granted.”
While Thomas is looking forward to gracing Armidale with his presence, it seems the anticipation of his visit is also building from those organising it all behind the scenes.
“I’m looking forward to it very much,” ACCKP director Rose Lovelock said.
“Thomas has been such an advocate for justice and truth. We hear so much that isn’t real and Thomas is able to communicate with people from all sectors, he’s proven that over and over again. I’m so happy to have him in town.”
“It’s such a wonderful opportunity to gather at this important Aboriginal place and meet in person a nationally-recognised advocate, and continue the truth-telling,” ANTaR’s Bar Finch added.
Thomas vows to keep writing and keep fighting and he also has his “day job”, which is advocating for workers as a union official. But nothing will stop him from continuing the most important campaign true to his heart.
“I’m still writing and still advocating for what I want for this country and that’s equality for indigenous people – equality and outcomes,” he said.
“I’d love to see people that I’ve met before, but also people that still want to learn. There’s a whole chapter in my new book about familiarity and a guide to help people to become familiar because it’s easy to believe a vicious rumour about a stranger than it is about a friend. So I encourage people to come and meet me and have a listen.”
A lunchtime gathering with Thomas Mayo will take place at the Cultural Centre (96-104 Kentucky Street, Armidale) on Saturday June 7, 11.30am-1.30pm.
The event is free with lunch provided and everyone in the community is welcome to attend.
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