Bill Onus
Encyclopedia
William Townsend Onus Jr (15 November 1906 - 10 January 1968), known as Bill Onus, was an Aboriginal
Australia
n political activist.
to William Townsend Onus Sr and Maud Mary Onus née Nelson who were of the Wiradjuri
people of central New South Wales
.
He was educated at Thomas Shadrach James
' mission school in Cummeragunja as well as spending two years at school in Echuca
from the age of ten.
As a teenager his family travelled throughout the Riverina
while his father worked as a drover.
In 1928 Onus moved to Sydney where he initially worked at the Bankstown Aerodrome as a rigger. During the Great Depression Onus took a number of jobs, including prospecting and truckdriving.
During the late 1930s Onus joined the Aborigines Progressive Association
, later becoming secretary and becoming a full-time employee of the association.
In the mid-1940s Onus moved to Melbourne where he worked for a shipping company as a clerk.
In 1952 Onus started business venture of his own - Aboriginal Enterprise Novelties - which produced collectables and souvenirs with Aboriginal motifs. By the end of the decade he had his own factory and shop. He became known as a boomerang thrower as he hawked his goods.
In 1962 Onus was presenter of the Alcheringa documentary series on ABC Television
.
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n political activist.
Early life and education
Onus was born at the Cummeragunja MissionCummeragunja Mission
Cummeragunja Mission, or Cummeragunja Station, was an Australian Aboriginal mission established in 1881 on the New South Wales side of the Murray River, on the Victorian border near Barmah. The people were mostly Yorta Yorta....
to William Townsend Onus Sr and Maud Mary Onus née Nelson who were of the Wiradjuri
Wiradjuri
The Wiradjuri are an Indigenous Australian group of central New South Wales.In the 21st century, major Wiradjuri groups live in Condobolin, Peak Hill, Narrandera and Griffith...
people of central New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
.
He was educated at Thomas Shadrach James
Thomas Shadrach James
Thomas Shadrach James was a school teacher, Methodist lay preacher, linguist and herbalist.-Biography:James was born as James Peersahib in a Muslim family to Samson Peersahib and Miriam Esther, née Thomas in Mauritius. His father Samson Peersahib was an interpreter of Indian descent...
' mission school in Cummeragunja as well as spending two years at school in Echuca
Echuca, Victoria
Echuca is a town located on the banks of the Murray River and Campaspe river in Victoria, Australia. The Border town Moama is on the northern side of the Murray river in New South Wales. It is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Shire of Campaspe...
from the age of ten.
As a teenager his family travelled throughout the Riverina
Riverina
The Riverina is an agricultural region of south-western New South Wales , Australia. The Riverina is distinguished from other Australian regions by the combination of flat plains, warm to hot climate and an ample supply of water for irrigation. This combination has allowed the Riverina to develop...
while his father worked as a drover.
Working life
At the age of 16 Onus left home to take up shearing, an occupation in which stayed for seven years.In 1928 Onus moved to Sydney where he initially worked at the Bankstown Aerodrome as a rigger. During the Great Depression Onus took a number of jobs, including prospecting and truckdriving.
During the late 1930s Onus joined the Aborigines Progressive Association
Aborigines Progressive Association
The Aborigines Progressive Association, was established in 1937 by William Ferguson, Pearl Gibbs and Jack Patten in Dubbo, New South Wales. Ferguson and Gibbs led a group in the western part of the state, while Patten assemble an alliance of activists in the north-east...
, later becoming secretary and becoming a full-time employee of the association.
In the mid-1940s Onus moved to Melbourne where he worked for a shipping company as a clerk.
In 1952 Onus started business venture of his own - Aboriginal Enterprise Novelties - which produced collectables and souvenirs with Aboriginal motifs. By the end of the decade he had his own factory and shop. He became known as a boomerang thrower as he hawked his goods.
Media
Onus had roles in a series of Australian movies including Uncivilised (1936), Lovers and Luggers (1937) and The Overlanders (1946). He also appeared in the documentary Forgotten People (1967).In 1962 Onus was presenter of the Alcheringa documentary series on ABC Television
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
.