Jane Lydon

Sydney Morning Herald

Forty years ago, the establishment of the Aboriginal tent embassy was a stroke of political genius. A striped beach umbrella planted on the manicured lawns outside Parliament House in Canberra came to symbolise Aboriginal Australians' sense of alienation in their own country.

How sad that 40 years later, on Australia Day last Thursday, the actions of people associated with the embassy eclipsed the nation's formal recognition of Laurie Baymarrwangga as Senior Australian of the Year. As our most senior white leader was bundled off like a rag doll under her minder's strong arm, we lost our chance to admire the dignity and accomplishments of one of our black elders.

The Australian of the Year Awards celebrate the contribution of eminent citizens who inspire and challenge us. In 1972, one of the tent embassy's leaders, Bobbi Sykes, argued that the media had ''done much to publicise the plight of the black Australian, but have done pitifully little to let the white community know of the radical changes taking place in the minds and attitudes of those same black Australians''. In place of the ''lazy Abo'', she argued, was ''a proud black man, on his way up, worthy of respect, and demanding his rights''. In 2012, it is truly time to acknowledge the proud black woman, who never ceded her rights, a great-great-grandmother who has spent her long life caring for kin and country.

Baymarrwangga (pronounced Bay-ma-rung-ah) is a Yolngu elder who is well into her 90s. She was nominated for her leadership and commitment in caring for her traditional people and country - the Yan-nhangu language speakers of the Crocodile Islands in north-eastern Arnhem Land.

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