The Sunraysia Daily 1966–1974. (2013)

The Sunraysia Daily 1966 – 1974 documents key articles relating to Aboriginal affairs and race relations in Mildura’s local paper, the Sunraysia Daily, between 1966 –1974.

The Sunraysia Daily 1966 – 1974 reveals that this period was one of significant evolution in the tone and content of articles about Aboriginal people in the Sunraysia Daily. Over this period parts of Mildura’s non Aboriginal community rallied in support of Mildura’s Aboriginal community, Mildura’s Aboriginal community views where reported in the Sunraysia Daily, and issues relating to Aboriginal people became more prominent in the paper. That said, many significant historical issues of the period, such as the the establishment of the Aboriginal Tent embassy in Canberra and the discovery of Mungo Man and Mungo Woman received very little coverage in the Sunraysia Daily. The only mention of the latter (which was front page news in Australia’s national newspapers) was in 1972 – it is reproduced on page 17 of this artwork publication.

To coincide with the launching of Mildura Palimpsest Biennale #9‏, 7500 copies of the artwork The Sunraysia Daily 1966 – 1974 have been printed and distributed for free as an insert into the Sunraysia Daily on Friday 4 October, 2013.

Please note that all the articles have been reproduced 25% larger than their original size to make them easier to read.

I would like to acknowledge the support and help of the following groups and individuals who made this artwork publication possible: the Indigenous Joint Management Committee of Mungo National Park and Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area, my local research assistant Whitney Upokomaki, Ricky Mitchell, the Mildura Library, the State Library of Victoria; and my dear friends Helen Vivian and Ross Lake.

Mathieu Gallois