Clarence Frederick "Clarrie" Isaacs, also known as Yaluritja and Ishak Mohamad Haj, (9 April 1948 – 26 November 2003) was an Aboriginal Australian activist.
Clarrie Isaacs JP | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 September 1948 |
| Died | 26 November 2003 (aged 55) |
| Resting place | Karrakatta Cemetery |
| Other names | Yaluritja Ishak Mohamed |
| Education | Perth Modern School |
| Known for | Activism |
| Children | Graham Isaacs, Naomi Isaacs, Amber Lankester Isaacs |
Life and career
editIsaacs attended Perth Modern School, where he studied technical drawing. He later attended the Clyde Cameron College in Albury, a union-backed training centre.[1] After converting to Islam Isaacs undertook a pilgrimage to Mecca, earning the right to use the honorific title Haj.[1]
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.[2][3][4] Isaacs, with other activists, travelled to Libya using Aboriginal passports issued by a group that later became known as the Aboriginal Provisional Government.[5] Attempting to use the passports on their re-entry to Australia, they were initially refused entry to Australia by immigration officials.[2][6][7][8]
Isaacs was a prominent figure in protests against development of the Swan Brewery site in Perth during the late 1980s.[2] He was also prominent in efforts to return the pickled head of 19th century Noongar warrior Yagan from Britain.[9]
In 1991 Isaacs was a founding member of the short-lived New Left Party, considered a successor of the Communist Party of Australia.[10] In the 1993 Western Australian state election Isaacs stood for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Fremantle.[11] Isaacs stood as a candidate for Racism No! in the 1996 Western Australian state election for the Legislative Council in the South Metropolitan Region.[12] At the 2001 Australian federal election Isaacs was a candidate for the Australian Senate, however he only received 260 votes.[13]
He was chairman of the Derbal Yerrigan Health Service and was a Western Australian delegate to the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.[14] Isaacs was a justice of the peace.[15]
Isaacs died 26 November 2003 in Dunsborough, Western Australia. He was buried on 12 December 2003 at Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth.[16][17][18]
References
edit- ^ a b "YALURITJA CLARRIE ISAACS (Haj) J.P." west.com.au. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ a b c Benbow, Anthony (10 December 2003). "Yaluritja Clarrie Isaacs – a lifetime of activism". Green Left Weekly. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ Isaacs, Clarrie. "Media Statement for the 1996 Australian Federal Elections". Aboriginal Government of Australia. west.com.au. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ "Details of Meetings" (PDF). Australian Senate. Parliament of Australia. p. 39. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ Walker, Antony (21 June 1988). "Libya backs black passports, say Mansell". The Age. Retrieved 12 May 2010 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ Frail, Rod (30 June 1988). "Mansell group held up in passport hitch". The Age. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Desperate Times". Message Stick. 14 May 2004. ABC Television. yes.
- ^ Prentis, Malcolm D. (2008). A Concise Companion to Aboriginal History. Rosenberg. pp. 17–18. ISBN 978-1-877058-62-2.
- ^ Muecke, Stephen (2004). "Morning Coffee With Clarrie". Ancient & modern: time, culture and indigenous philosophy. Sydney: UNSW Press. pp. 41, 42. ISBN 0-86840-786-0.
- ^ McDonald, Tom; McDonald, Audrey (January 1998). Intimate union: sharing a revolutionary life. Pluto Press Australia. p. 358. ISBN 1-86403-051-8.
- ^ "2009 Fremantle By-election". ABC Elections. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
- ^ "South Metropolitan Region" (PDF). Western Australian State Election 1996. Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ "Senate Results - First Preference Votes by Candidate - Western Australia". Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ "Aboriginal health sector loses three great friends" (PDF). NACCHO News. National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. February 2004. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
- ^ "List of submissions received by the Committee" (PDF). Standing Committee on Legislation. Parliament of Western Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
- ^ "Aboriginal activist Clarrie Isaacs dies". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 November 2003. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ "Funeral for Indigenous activist". Department of Indigenous Affairs. 3 December 2003. Retrieved 12 May 2010. [dead link]
- ^ "Name Search". Metropolitan Cemeteries Board. Retrieved 15 June 2023.