Stephen Hagan
Encyclopedia
Stephen Hagan is an Australian author, activist and campaigner against racism. He is also a newspaper editor, documentary
maker, university lecturer and former diplomat.
In 1999 Stephen Hagan commenced legal action over the naming of the E S "Nigger" Brown
Stand rugby oval stand in Toowoomba, Queensland. This led to a battle that lasted for ten years, travelling through the Australian legal system to the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It was finally resolved in 2008 when the Sports Minister Judy Spence
gained agreement from the Toowoomba Sports Ground Trust not to use the "offensive word" in any future tributes after the demolition of the grandstand as part of upgrades to the grounds.
, which is situated in the south-western region of Queensland, Australia. His father, Jim Hagan, belonged to the Kullili
people of the region, while his mother was from the nearby Kooma
. Hagan spent his first seven years living on a camp on the outskirts of the town, before moving into a new house nearby – an experience that helped shape his perceptions of the socio-economic
inequalities between the aboriginal population and white Australians.
Success in high school led to an opportunity to attend boarding school
at Marist College Ashgrove
in Brisbane. From there he undertook training to become a teacher, but he reports that he became disillusioned with the system after being required to teach with "racist" texts. As a result he left teaching to work with a number of Indigenous organisations, and it was through them that he met and worked under Charles Perkins. From there he moved into the Department of Foreign Affairs
, gaining a diplomatic post to Colombo
in Sri Lanka.
Upon returning to Australia he worked in both the public and private sectors, the latter including venturing into cultural tourism
. More recently he lectured at the University of Southern Queensland
in Toowoomba while undertaking a doctorate
. In July 2010, Hagen became editor of the National Indigenous Times
.
" Brown Stand, which had been named after the 1920s rugby
player Edwin Stanley Brown
– also known as "Nigger" Brown, possibly in response to his pale skin and blond hair. This prompted a ten-year campaign to have the stand renamed to remove the offending nickname.
Hagan v Australia (2003) was a complaint heard before the Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). Hagan, the complainant, objected to the naming of the "E.S. 'Nigger' Brown Stand" at a sports ground in Toowoomba. Before bringing the action before the Committee, Hagan had unsuccessfully pursued the case before the High Court
and the Federal Court of Australia
, both of which rejected his claim. The CERD found that there was no express contravention of article 4 of the CERD. However, the committee considered that such a breach was occurring.
Hagan made a successful appeal to the United Nations
, however this ruling was not recognised by the Queensland State Government. Eventually, after ten years, the stand was demolished and the issue was resolved, with Toowoomba Sports Ground Inc agreeing not to use the term in the future.
As the dispute went through the courts Hagan was brought close to bankruptcy and received threats – including letters claiming to be from the Ku Klux Klan
. As a result of these threats and for the sake of his family, Hagan decided to move house.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
maker, university lecturer and former diplomat.
In 1999 Stephen Hagan commenced legal action over the naming of the E S "Nigger" Brown
Edwin Brown
Edwin Stanley "Nigger" Brown was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1910s and 20s. A Queensland state and Australian international representative centre, he played club football in Toowoomba for Newtown....
Stand rugby oval stand in Toowoomba, Queensland. This led to a battle that lasted for ten years, travelling through the Australian legal system to the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It was finally resolved in 2008 when the Sports Minister Judy Spence
Judy Spence
Judith Caroline "Judy" Spence is an Australian politician and member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for the Australian Labor Party since the 1989 election. She represented Mount Gravatt until 2009, but after a redistribution she switched to Sunnybank, which covered much of the same territory...
gained agreement from the Toowoomba Sports Ground Trust not to use the "offensive word" in any future tributes after the demolition of the grandstand as part of upgrades to the grounds.
Early life
Stephen Hagan was born in 1959 in Cunnamulla, QueenslandCunnamulla, Queensland
Cunnamulla is a small town that lies on the Warrego River in south west Queensland, Australia, south of Charleville, and approximately west of the state capital, Brisbane....
, which is situated in the south-western region of Queensland, Australia. His father, Jim Hagan, belonged to the Kullili
Kullili language
Kullili is an Australian Aboriginal language.The Kullili people were an important group who occupied an area of Australia from about Thargomindah in south-west Queensland, southward to the Currawinya Lakes, and west to Bulloo Lakes and north to Norley Station.The Kullili language was collated by...
people of the region, while his mother was from the nearby Kooma
Kooma
The Kooma are an Indigenous Australian tribe living in the border region of Queensland and New South Wales. Category:Aboriginal tribes of New South Wales...
. Hagan spent his first seven years living on a camp on the outskirts of the town, before moving into a new house nearby – an experience that helped shape his perceptions of the socio-economic
Socioeconomics
Socioeconomics or socio-economics or social economics is an umbrella term with different usages. 'Social economics' may refer broadly to the "use of economics in the study of society." More narrowly, contemporary practice considers behavioral interactions of individuals and groups through social...
inequalities between the aboriginal population and white Australians.
Success in high school led to an opportunity to attend boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
at Marist College Ashgrove
Marist College Ashgrove
Marist College Ashgrove is a Roman Catholic day and boarding school for boys, located in Ashgrove, a northern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
in Brisbane. From there he undertook training to become a teacher, but he reports that he became disillusioned with the system after being required to teach with "racist" texts. As a result he left teaching to work with a number of Indigenous organisations, and it was through them that he met and worked under Charles Perkins. From there he moved into the Department of Foreign Affairs
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia)
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is a department of the government of Australia charged with advancing the interests of Australia and its citizens internationally...
, gaining a diplomatic post to Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
in Sri Lanka.
Upon returning to Australia he worked in both the public and private sectors, the latter including venturing into cultural tourism
Cultural tourism
Cultural tourism is the subset of tourism concerned with a country or region's culture, specifically the lifestyle of the people in those geographical areas, the history of those peoples, their art, architecture, religion, and other elements that helped shape their way of life...
. More recently he lectured at the University of Southern Queensland
University of Southern Queensland
The University of Southern Queensland is based in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. The institution was established in 1967 as the Queensland Institute of Technology...
in Toowoomba while undertaking a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
. In July 2010, Hagen became editor of the National Indigenous Times
National Indigenous Times
The National Indigenous Times is an Indigenous Australian affairs newspaper first published on 27 February 2002. It was set up by Owen Carriage, the founder of the Koori Mail, and a group of other Australians, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous...
.
E. S. "Nigger" Brown Stand
In 1999, Stephen Hagan visited the Clive Berghofer Stadium in Toowoomba, Queensland, and noticed a large sign declaring the name of the E. S. "NiggerNigger
Nigger is a noun in the English language, most notable for its usage in a pejorative context to refer to black people , and also as an informal slang term, among other contexts. It is a common ethnic slur...
" Brown Stand, which had been named after the 1920s rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
player Edwin Stanley Brown
Edwin Brown
Edwin Stanley "Nigger" Brown was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1910s and 20s. A Queensland state and Australian international representative centre, he played club football in Toowoomba for Newtown....
– also known as "Nigger" Brown, possibly in response to his pale skin and blond hair. This prompted a ten-year campaign to have the stand renamed to remove the offending nickname.
Hagan v Australia (2003) was a complaint heard before the Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). Hagan, the complainant, objected to the naming of the "E.S. 'Nigger' Brown Stand" at a sports ground in Toowoomba. Before bringing the action before the Committee, Hagan had unsuccessfully pursued the case before the High Court
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
and the Federal Court of Australia
Federal Court of Australia
The Federal Court of Australia is an Australian superior court of record which has jurisdiction to deal with most civil disputes governed by federal law , along with some summary criminal matters. Cases are heard at first instance by single Judges...
, both of which rejected his claim. The CERD found that there was no express contravention of article 4 of the CERD. However, the committee considered that such a breach was occurring.
Hagan made a successful appeal to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, however this ruling was not recognised by the Queensland State Government. Eventually, after ten years, the stand was demolished and the issue was resolved, with Toowoomba Sports Ground Inc agreeing not to use the term in the future.
As the dispute went through the courts Hagan was brought close to bankruptcy and received threats – including letters claiming to be from the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
. As a result of these threats and for the sake of his family, Hagan decided to move house.
Awards and achievements
- 2005: 2005 Deadly AwardsThe Deadlys Award winners 2005-Music:*Most Promising New Talent: Lez Beckett*Single Release of the Year: Casey Donovan — Listen with Your Heart*Album Release of the Year: Fitzroy Xpress — Home Sweet Home*Band of the Year: Local Knowledge*Artist of the Year: Casey Donovan...
– Outstanding Achievement in Literature: Stephen Hagan: The N Word: One Man's Stand - 2006: 2006 NAIDOC Person of the Year
- 2007: ATOM AwardATOM AwardThe ATOM Awards are a group of awards offered to Australian and New Zealand "professionals, educators and students", honouring achievements in the making of film, television, multimedia, and from 2007 multi-modal productions....
and Inside Film AwardsInside Film AwardsThe Inside Film Awards is an annual awards ceremony and broadcast platform for the Australian film industry, a format created by Australian Producer Andrew Dillon...
– 2007 nominations – The SBS IF AwardInside Film AwardsThe Inside Film Awards is an annual awards ceremony and broadcast platform for the Australian film industry, a format created by Australian Producer Andrew Dillon...
for Best Short Documentary: Nigger Lovers, directed by Rhonda Hagan, produced by Daryl Sparkes and Stephen Hagan