Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs

The Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs grew out of the Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship, whose membership comprised both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, including Pearl Gibbs, Joyce Clague, and Faith Bandler.[1] It was established at a time when many Aboriginal people, or Kooris, were moving from the country to the city.[2] At the time, the only completely Aboriginal organisation at the time was the Aborigines Progressive Association, also based in Sydney.[3]

The organisation's establishment was planned from 1963,[4] founded by Aboriginal men Bill Geddes and Ted Noffs (a Methodist and Uniting Church minister and social activist of German descent[5]), working with activists Ken Brindle[6] and Charles Perkins.[7][6] A non-Aboriginal woman, Myrtle Cox, was also involved in its establishment.[8] Noffs became chairman and Perkins and Brindle vice-chairman of the organisation.[9] The original name of the organisation was Aboriginal Affairs Association;[5] the name was changed to Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs at a meeting on 1 July 1964.[10] Its first offices were in the Wayside Chapel, founded by Reverend Noffs in 1964.[11]

A big fund-raising drive in December 1964 raised over ₤80,000 for Aboriginal Affairs and the Aboriginal Children's Advancement Society,[3] with the NSW Government giving an additional ₤10,000[9] for the organisation. This allowed them to buy a new building at 810–812 George Street, Sydney in 1965.[3]

It was originally intended to be non-religious and non-political, but later became involved in the push for community control by Aboriginal people. It was nicknamed "the Foundo".[12] Others involved in the running of the Foundo were Chicka Dixon, Harry Williams (who were mostly involved in running the various services offered by the organisation),[12] Gary Foley and Joyce Clague, who became more prominent activists over time.[6] Thelma Bate acted as treasurer at some time during the 1960s.[13]

Perkins, who became manager in 1965[14][15] and retained that position until 1969,[9] worked full-time for the organisation after graduating from Sydney University in 1966, working 10-hour days on a low wage, and travelling around the country. He disagreed with several of the white executives, feeling that they could not understand Indigenous issues, and that some of them were motivated by personal gain. This led to disputes in meetings, in which the white executives accused Perkins of being too emotional.[8] Perkins worked with businesses to encourage them to employ Aboriginal people who may not yet have acquired necessary skills.[14][15]

In August 1966, the foundation requested support from the New South Wales Government, as it was running at a loss after paying wages, rates, taxes, and administration expenses. The vice-president, D. R. Moore, said that Aboriginal people who found themselves in trouble would not go to government-run organisations for welfare, and needed the support of the new foundation.[16]

In October 1966 the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs moved into their building at 810–812 George Street, which was officially opened by Eric Willis, then the Chief Secretary of New South Wales.[12] Musician Jimmy Little was a member and president around 1970. Lynn Thompson acted as secretary for some time, and Connie Nungulla McDonald was an employee.[17]

The foundation, working together with the Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship, gave much support to the campaign for the "Yes" vote in the 1967 referendum to give the federal government power to make laws relating to Aboriginal people.[6] In that year, the foundation had over 400 people using their services.[14][15] In the last years of the 1960s, the foundation's leadership began to push for Aboriginal control of the organisation.[14][15]

In 1971, musician and theatre manager Bettie Fisher became a member of the executive committee.[18]

In November 1971, when Pastor David Kirk was chair of the foundation, the deputy premier of New South Wales, Allan Viney, walked out of the foundation's seventh annual meeting as a debate was being held as to whether he should be allowed to stay, given the lack of action for Aboriginal people by the state government.[19] By 1973, the management comprised only Aboriginal people.[14][15]

In January 1974, the foundation, then chaired by Michael Anderson, signalled to the government that it was running out of funds for that financial year. It had requested A$159,000 in its budget submission, but only received A$62,000 that year.[20] Funding from the wider community dwindled, as often happened with Aboriginal-run organisations, and it shut down its services in 1975.[14][15]

The organisation closed down in 1977, due partly to lack of funding and also because of a move towards Aboriginal-run organisations.[12][6]