Clarrie Isaacs
Encyclopedia
Clarence Frederick "Clarrie" Isaacs also known as Yaluritja and Ishak Mohamad Haj (9 April 1948 – 26 November 2003) was an Australian Aboriginal activist.
where he studied technical drawing. He later attended the Clyde Cameron College in Albury
, where he studied to become a well-respected Justice of the Peace, a union-backed training centre. Due to the attitude of some of the police at the central lockup, he was unable to carry out his duties due to their rascism. This later became an issue that had his licence reviewed. No laws had been broken by Mr Isaacs as he was just doing his job, helping the Aboriginal people who were applying for bail. After converting to Islam
Isaacs undertook a pilgrimage
to Mecca
, earning the right to use the honorific title Haj
. Mr Isaacs was the fist Aboriginal to be apart of the Hajj. As he described it "It was the best experience, as was it an honnour".
In the early 1990s Isaacs was among a number of activists including Michael Mansell
who formed the Aboriginal Provisional Government
. At various times Isaacs styled himself as the President of the Aboriginal Government. Isaacs, with other activists, travelled to Libya
using Aboriginal passport
s issued by a group that later became known as the Aboriginal Provisional Government. Attempting to use the passports on their re-entry to Australia, they were initially refused entry to Australia by immigration officials.
Isaacs was a prominent figure in protests against development of the Swan Brewery
site in Perth
during the late 1980s. He was also prominent in efforts to return the pickled head of 19th Century Noongar
warrior Yagan
from Britain.
In 1991 Isaacs was a founding member of the short-lived New Left Party, considered a successor of the Communist Party of Australia
. In the 1993 Western Australian state election
Isaacs stood for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
seat of Fremantle
. Isaacs stood as a candidate for Racism No! in the 1996 Western Australian state election
for the Legislative Council
in the South Metropolitan Region. At the 2001 Australian federal election Isaacs was a candidate for the Australian Senate
, however he only received 260 votes.
He served as chairman of the Derbal Yerrigan Health Service and was a Western Australian delegate to the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. Isaacs was a Justice of the Peace
.
Isaacs died 26 November 2003 in Dunsborough, Western Australia
. He was buried on 12 December 2003 at Pinnaroo Cemetery in Perth
.
Life and career
Isaacs attended Perth Modern SchoolPerth Modern School
Perth Modern School is an academically-selective co-educational public high school located in Subiaco, an inner city suburb of Perth, Western Australia.The school, established in 1911, now caters for students with high academic ability....
where he studied technical drawing. He later attended the Clyde Cameron College in Albury
Albury
-Places:*Albury, New South Wales, Australia** Electoral district of Albury is an electoral district in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, based around the area.*Albury, Hertfordshire, England*Albury, Oxfordshire, England*Albury, Surrey, England...
, where he studied to become a well-respected Justice of the Peace, a union-backed training centre. Due to the attitude of some of the police at the central lockup, he was unable to carry out his duties due to their rascism. This later became an issue that had his licence reviewed. No laws had been broken by Mr Isaacs as he was just doing his job, helping the Aboriginal people who were applying for bail. After converting to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
Isaacs undertook a pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
to Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
, earning the right to use the honorific title Haj
Hajji
Hajji or El-Hajj, is an honorific title given to a Muslim person who has successfully completed the Hajj to Mecca, and is often used to refer to an elder, since it can take time to accumulate the wealth to fund the travel. The title is placed before a person's name...
. Mr Isaacs was the fist Aboriginal to be apart of the Hajj. As he described it "It was the best experience, as was it an honnour".
In the early 1990s Isaacs was among a number of activists including Michael Mansell
Michael Mansell
Michael Mansell is an Aboriginal lawyer and activist, who has dedicated his life to social, political and legal reform to improve the lives and social standing of Tasmanian Aborigines....
who formed the Aboriginal Provisional Government
Aboriginal Provisional Government
The Aboriginal Provisional Government is an Indigenous Australian independence movement.-Earlier activity:In 1988 Michael Mansell, Clarrie Isaacs and other activists who later formed the APG, travelled to Libya using Aboriginal passports used by the group...
. At various times Isaacs styled himself as the President of the Aboriginal Government. Isaacs, with other activists, travelled to Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
using Aboriginal passport
Aboriginal passport
An Aboriginal Passport refers to various travel documents of varying degrees of legality issued to or by Indigenous Australians.-Western Australia:...
s issued by a group that later became known as the Aboriginal Provisional Government. Attempting to use the passports on their re-entry to Australia, they were initially refused entry to Australia by immigration officials.
Isaacs was a prominent figure in protests against development of the Swan Brewery
Swan Brewery
The Swan Brewery is a brewery located in Perth, Western Australia. It was founded in central Perth in 1837. From 1879, it occupied riverside premises below Mount Eliza, displacing an official "Aboriginal institution" which recognised traditional use of the land by indigenous people.The brewery...
site in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
during the late 1980s. He was also prominent in efforts to return the pickled head of 19th Century Noongar
Noongar
The Noongar are an indigenous Australian people who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the south coast...
warrior Yagan
Yagan
Yagan was an Australian Aboriginal warrior from the Noongar tribe who played a key part in early indigenous Australian resistance to British settlement and rule in the area of Perth, Western Australia. After he led a series of burglaries and robberies across the countryside, in which white...
from Britain.
In 1991 Isaacs was a founding member of the short-lived New Left Party, considered a successor of the Communist Party of Australia
Communist Party of Australia
The Communist Party of Australia was founded in 1920 and dissolved in 1991; it was succeeded by the Socialist Party of Australia, which then renamed itself, becoming the current Communist Party of Australia. The CPA achieved its greatest political strength in the 1940s and faced an attempted...
. In the 1993 Western Australian state election
Western Australian state election, 1993
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 6 February 1993 to elect all 57 members to the Legislative Assembly and all 34 members to the Legislative Council...
Isaacs stood for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
seat of Fremantle
Electoral district of Fremantle
Fremantle is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia.The district is located in the inner south-west of Perth, centring on the port of Fremantle....
. Isaacs stood as a candidate for Racism No! in the 1996 Western Australian state election
Western Australian state election, 1996
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 14 December 1996 to elect all 57 members to the Legislative Assembly and all 34 members to the Legislative Council...
for the Legislative Council
Western Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state...
in the South Metropolitan Region. At the 2001 Australian federal election Isaacs was a candidate for the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
, however he only received 260 votes.
He served as chairman of the Derbal Yerrigan Health Service and was a Western Australian delegate to the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. Isaacs was a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
.
Isaacs died 26 November 2003 in Dunsborough, Western Australia
Dunsborough, Western Australia
Dunsborough is a coastal town in the South West of Western Australia, south of Perth on the shores of Geographe Bay.Dunsborough is a popular tourist destination for Western Australians; in 1999 it was voted the state's best tourist destination. During the last decade the town has grown quickly and...
. He was buried on 12 December 2003 at Pinnaroo Cemetery in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
.