WILLIAM BARAK: Born in 1824 of the Wurrundjeri Willum people, he lived a traditional Aboriginal life until white settlement of Melbourne in After the distruption and dispossession he moved with his family to Acheron in 1859, and then settled into Corranderk after its official formation in In the late 1870’s when the management of Aboriginal affairs came under public criticism, he emerged as a respected spokesperson, especially to the government enquiry of He outlined a plan for autonomous communities: “give us this ground and let us manage here ourselves... and no one over us... we will show the country we can work and make it pay and I know it will”; his plea was rejected. He became a noted contributor on Aboriginal customs, culture and language, working with noted anthropologists of the time, dying in 1903.

WILLIAM COOPER - A Yorta Yorta man born c1861 – as a young man forced to work for pastoralists – he became a wide reader and learnt of the Indigenous movements in North America and New Zealand... he helped establish the Aboriginal Advancement League in 1935 he led the first Aboriginal delegation to a Commonwealth Minister.....he established National Aborigines Day first celebrated in

PASTOR SIR DOUG NICHOLLS: Born 1906 on Cumeroogunga Mission. Superb sportsman – football, boxing, running.... in 1935 he preached as a lay minister at the Gore Street Mission in Fitzroy – in 1942 he was requested by the Victorian Police to assist with problems in the Fitzroy Aboriginal community, commencing his career as a social worker... – eventually he became the pastor of the first Aboriginal Church of Christ in Australia. In 1957 he became a field officer for the AAL... in the same year he was awarded a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to the community. He set up hostels for Aboriginal children.... Founding member of the FCAATSI.. in 1962 he was Victoria's Father of the Year, in 1968 he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and became a founding member of the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs in Victoria. He was inaugural Chair of the National Aboriginal Sports Foundation.... in 1972 he became the first Aboriginal person to be knighted by the Queen in London and in 1976 he was appointed Governor of South Australia.

WILLIAM ONUS: Born 1906 at Cumeroogunga on the banks of the Murray River of Wiradjuri parents: activist – businessman – radical trade unionist – civil libertarian – orator – actor - in 1967 he led Victoria in the campaign for a “yes” vote in the referendum...first Aboriginal President of the Aborigines Advancement League (Victoria)...

HAROLD BLAIR: Born in 1924 in Cherbourg Queensland, dying in East Melbourne in Harold was a world renowned tenor, who had gained his Diploma of Music at the Melba Conservatorium in Melbourne in He had been refused entry to Sydney Conservatorium because of his lack of formal education. He became a teacher, a strong activist for Aboriginal rights within Victoria, even standing, unsuccessfully, as the Labour Candidate for Victorian Legislative Assembly in In 1976 he was appointed A.O.

IRIS LOVETT-GARDINER: A Gunditjmara woman born in 1926 at Lake Condah Mission, her early years were spent on the Mission with her family.... a strong Aboriginal family woman. One of her major concerns became that state of some Aboriginal elders who were dying without anyone from the Aboriginal community knowing about it. She said “I had the idea of having a place, a hostel, for Aboriginal elders. I was tired of our people dying in rooming houses and all sorts of places because they had nobody and they were sick. I thought,.. we should make somewhere where we can keep the elders under our eyes.” In 1991 the iris Lovett Gardiner Aboriginal Elders Caring place was opened in East Brunswick. Today ACES has 25 beds provided two levels of care – nursing home or more independent living.

MOLLY DYER: A Yorta Yorta woman born a member of the Stolen Generations she became the inaugural programs director of the newly formed Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency in She advocated for change to adoption legislation to prevent Aboriginal families unnecessarily surrendering their children in Victoria... Reared 6 children and fostered 20 Aboriginal children... She received Order of Australia in recognition of her work with Aboriginal families.

ELEANOR HARDING: Born in 1934 on Erub Island in the Torres Strait – left her home in as young girl after the death of her parents and came to Melbourne in the 1950s. She became a mother and a strong activist for Indigenous rights both on the mainland and on her own home... a strong believer in education as an instrument of change – she encouraged her children to be among the first Indigenous students at Melbourne University. In 1992 she established premises in Thornbury for Wongai Torres Strait Islander Corporation in Victoria.

HYLLUS MARRIS – Yorta Yorta woman born 1934 – co-founder of the National Council of Aboriginal and Island women in 1970/ Co-wrote the award-winning Women of the Sun – a historical document that became a TV series awakening the nation to the true history of white settlement and its aftermath.

JOAN ROBINSON (KELLY): A Mutthi Mutthi woman born 1939 in Balranald, NSW, Joan was the eldest daughter of Alice and Alf Kelly... she travelled to Melbourne as a young woman determined to break down the barriers to employment for Aboriginal women. She stayed initially with Sir Doug Nicholls and his wife and was employed at Footrest Shoes in Preston where she worked for the next 35 years. She ensured that she passed on her values of pride in identity and strong work ethic to her younger brothers and sisters and her own family. Her home was always open for a meal, company and wise advice. Joan saw no colour barriers and allowed no barriers to prevent her from achieving what she set out to achieve. She challenged stereotypes and racism, just by simply being who she was a hard worker and a woman of great faith that could never be swayed always living by the ultimate law “Love one another as I Have loved You”.