Great news Warren, but it’s still one person one vote
This is great news however, we are looking for more than the people of voting age of the Northern Territory with a total population of 199,900 to change Government.
It is a fine beginning and from little things, big things grow…
with acknowledgement to Paul Kelly, Kev Carmody and Archie Roach
Image from here
"Gather round people let me tell you a story, an eight year long story of power and pride.
British Lord Vestey and Vincent Lingiarri, were opposite men on opposite sides.
Vestey was fat with money and muscle.
Beef was his business, broad was his door.
Vincent was lean and spoke very little, he had no bank balance, hard dirt was his floor.
From little things big things grow.
Gurindji were working for nothing but rations, where once they had gathered the wealth of the land.
Daily the pressure got tighter and tighter, Gurindju decided they must make a stand. They picked up their swags and started off walking, at Wattie Creek they sat themselves down.
Now it don’t sound like much but it sure got tongues talking, back at the homestead and then in the town.
From little things big things grow.
Vestey man said I’ll double your wages, seven quid a week you’ll have in your hand. Vincent said uhuh we’re not talking about wages, we’re sitting right here till we get back our land.
Vestey man roared and Vestey man thundered, you don’t stand the chance of a cinder in snow.
Vince said if we fall others are rising.
From little things big things grow.
Then Vincent Lingiarri boarded an aeroplane, landed in Sydney, big city of lights, and daily he went round softly speaking his story, to all kinds of men from all walks of life, and Vincent sat down with big politicians, this affair they told him is a matter of state, let us sort it out, your people are hungry, Vincent said no thanks, we know how to wait.
From little things big things grow.
Then Vincent Lingiarri returned in an aeroplane, back to his country once more to sit down, and he told his people let the stars keep on turning, we have friends in the south, in the cities and towns.
Eight years went by, eight long years of waiting, ’til one day a tall stranger appeared in the land, and he came with lawyers and he came with great ceremony, and through Vincent’s fingers poured a handful of sand.
From little things big things grow.
That was the story of Vincent Lingairri, but this is the story of something much more, how power and privilege can not move a people, who know where they stand and stand in the law.
From little things big things grow."