John Newfong
Encyclopedia
John Newfong Aboriginal Australian journalist
and writer, was the first Aboriginal person to be employed as an journalist in the mainstream print media.
Newfong was born in Wynnum
, a suburb of Brisbane
, Queensland
, in 1943. His father Benjamin "Archie" Archibald Nu Fong was a Queensland champion heavyweight
boxer, and his mother Edna Crouch played in the Australian women's cricket team
which played England
in 1935. Newfong's family soon moved to North Stradbroke Island
, but when Newfong was five, the family returned to Wynnum where he attended the local school, and later, Wynnum High School. After graduating, he wanted to study Law however entrace to university at the time would only allow Aborigines to undertake education degrees to become teachers; and only if they choose to teach in a community. He instead worked in Mount Isa as a miner in 1965 before returning to Brisbane to campaign for the 1967 Referendum. Later, he trained as a journalist at The Sydney Morning Herald
newspaper in Sydney.
Newfong was campaign secretary for the Queensland Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, the state affiliate of the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI) in the leadup to the 1967 Aboriginal referendum
. He had joined the Queensland council in 1961, and was soon promoted to the federal council. Soon after the referendum, he was offered a job at The Sydney Morning Herald
newspaper, and later worked at The Australian
. In 1970, he was elected as the general secretary of FCAATSI.
In 1972, Newfong was made the "ambassador" for the Aboriginal Tent Embassy
on the lawns of Old Parliament House
in Canberra
, where his media contacts and experience in the Canberra press corps were crucial in establishing a public image for the embassy. Although he resided at the embassy from February until July and was quoted in the Australian and overseas press, he is best remembered for his quote, "The Mission has come to town".
Later that year, he continued to work as a journalist, between 1972-1973 and 1979-1980 he was editor of Identity, an indigenous Australian magazine funded by the Aboriginal Publications Foundation.
Later, Newfong was a founding member of the National Aboriginal Conference (NAC) in 1977, and was a member of its executive until 1979.
Newfong was the public relations director of the Aboriginal Medical Service
in the Sydney
suburb of Redfern
. He also did public relations work for Channel Nine (Cyclone Tracey telephon), the Society for Crippled Children, National Aboriginal and Islander Health Organisation, and for the Aboriginal Development Commission. Writing in The Australian in 1986, Newfong defended Aboriginal legal services from attacks by the Police Federation of Australia
, who criticised government funding for those services. Newfong achieved a compromise between his position in the mainstream media, which often ignored indigenous issues, and his role in the indigenous rights movement, through his excellent writing and oratory skills, and his outspokenness on many issues.
In 1993, Newfong was a lecturer at James Cook University
in Townsville
, where he taught journalism and media studies. The following year, Newfong was briefly Aboriginal policy officer for the Australian Medical Association in Canberra. He later worked as a speech writer for the NSW Government on Aboriginal issues. Until his death in 1999, Newfong lectured at various Australian universities on indigenous health and government relations.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and writer, was the first Aboriginal person to be employed as an journalist in the mainstream print media.
Newfong was born in Wynnum
Wynnum, Queensland
Wynnum is a suburb located on the shores of Moreton Bay in Brisbane, Australia, about 16 kilometres east of the CBD. The area was sparsely settled until the arrival of the railway in the late 1880s, but then grew fairly rapidly. The former Wynnum Shire Council was created in 1902, and twelve years...
, a suburb of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, in 1943. His father Benjamin "Archie" Archibald Nu Fong was a Queensland champion heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
boxer, and his mother Edna Crouch played in the Australian women's cricket team
Australian women's cricket team
The Australian women's cricket team played their first Test match in 1934/5, when they lost to England two-nil in a three-Test series. Since then they have improved and are generally considered the best women's cricket team in the world...
which played England
English women's cricket team
The England women's cricket team played their first Test match in 1934–35, when they beat Australia 2–0 in a three-Test series. Their current captain is Charlotte Edwards, replacing Clare Connor after her five-year tenure, which she finished by leading England to their first Ashes series win since...
in 1935. Newfong's family soon moved to North Stradbroke Island
North Stradbroke Island
North Stradbroke Island is an Australian island in the state of Queensland, 30 km southeast of the capital Brisbane. Before 1896 the island was part of the Stradbroke Island. In that year a storm separated it from South Stradbroke Island, forming the Jumpinpin Channel. It is known...
, but when Newfong was five, the family returned to Wynnum where he attended the local school, and later, Wynnum High School. After graduating, he wanted to study Law however entrace to university at the time would only allow Aborigines to undertake education degrees to become teachers; and only if they choose to teach in a community. He instead worked in Mount Isa as a miner in 1965 before returning to Brisbane to campaign for the 1967 Referendum. Later, he trained as a journalist at The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
newspaper in Sydney.
Newfong was campaign secretary for the Queensland Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, the state affiliate of the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI) in the leadup to the 1967 Aboriginal referendum
Australian referendum, 1967 (Aboriginals)
The referendum of 27 May 1967 approved two amendments to the Australian constitution relating to Indigenous Australians. Technically it was a vote on the Constitution Alteration 1967, which became law on 10 August 1967 following the results of the referendum...
. He had joined the Queensland council in 1961, and was soon promoted to the federal council. Soon after the referendum, he was offered a job at The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
newspaper, and later worked at The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
. In 1970, he was elected as the general secretary of FCAATSI.
In 1972, Newfong was made the "ambassador" for the Aboriginal Tent Embassy
Aboriginal Tent Embassy
The Aboriginal Tent Embassy is a controversial semi-permanent assemblage claiming to represent the political rights of Australian Aborigines. It is made of a large group of activists, signs, and tents that reside on the lawn of Old Parliament House in Canberra, the Australian capital...
on the lawns of Old Parliament House
Old Parliament House, Canberra
Old Parliament House, known formerly as the Provisional Parliament House, was the house of the Parliament of Australia from 1927 to 1988. The building began operation on 9 May 1927 as a temporary base for the Commonwealth Parliament after its relocation from Melbourne to the new capital, Canberra,...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, where his media contacts and experience in the Canberra press corps were crucial in establishing a public image for the embassy. Although he resided at the embassy from February until July and was quoted in the Australian and overseas press, he is best remembered for his quote, "The Mission has come to town".
Later that year, he continued to work as a journalist, between 1972-1973 and 1979-1980 he was editor of Identity, an indigenous Australian magazine funded by the Aboriginal Publications Foundation.
Later, Newfong was a founding member of the National Aboriginal Conference (NAC) in 1977, and was a member of its executive until 1979.
Newfong was the public relations director of the Aboriginal Medical Service
Aboriginal Medical Service
The Aboriginal Medical Service was established in Redfern from 1971. It was the first Aboriginal community controlled health service in Australia, and it is now a key Indigenous community organisation, from which most Aboriginal medical services around the State of New South Wales have stemmed...
in the Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
suburb of Redfern
Redfern, New South Wales
Redfern is an inner-city suburb of Sydney. Redfern is 3 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney...
. He also did public relations work for Channel Nine (Cyclone Tracey telephon), the Society for Crippled Children, National Aboriginal and Islander Health Organisation, and for the Aboriginal Development Commission. Writing in The Australian in 1986, Newfong defended Aboriginal legal services from attacks by the Police Federation of Australia
Police Federation of Australia
The Police Federation of Australia is a peak union body that represents the interests of Australian police officers.It was formerly registered under the Workplace Relations Act 1996 on 1 January 1998...
, who criticised government funding for those services. Newfong achieved a compromise between his position in the mainstream media, which often ignored indigenous issues, and his role in the indigenous rights movement, through his excellent writing and oratory skills, and his outspokenness on many issues.
In 1993, Newfong was a lecturer at James Cook University
James Cook University
James Cook University is a public university based in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The university has two Australian campuses, located in Townsville and Cairns respectively, and an international campus in Singapore. JCU is the second oldest university in Queensland—proclaimed in 1970—and the...
in Townsville
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census...
, where he taught journalism and media studies. The following year, Newfong was briefly Aboriginal policy officer for the Australian Medical Association in Canberra. He later worked as a speech writer for the NSW Government on Aboriginal issues. Until his death in 1999, Newfong lectured at various Australian universities on indigenous health and government relations.