03/06/2026
Today, we honour the enduring legacy of the late Eddie Koiki Mabo - a proud Meriam man from Mer (Murray Island) in Zenadth Kes and a tireless advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land rights.
His work led to the landmark 1992 High Court decision that overturned the false doctrine of terra nullius, recognising for the first time in law what has always been true - that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have lived on, cared for, and maintained deep connections to Country for tens of thousands of years.
But Koiki Mabo’s fight for justice began long before the courts. In the 1970s, he and Bonita Mabo co-founded the Townsville Black Community School - creating a place where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children could learn their languages, culture, and history free from racism and deficit narratives in education.
He later served as President of the National Aboriginal Education Committee, continuing to advocate for the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to learn in ways that strengthen identity, culture, and pride.
Today, we remember Eddie Koiki Mabo not only for his legal legacy, but for his unwavering commitment to truth, justice, and education grounded in culture and community.
