Gerry Bostock (15 July 1942 – 16 May 2014) was a Bundjalung activist, playwright, poet and filmmaker.
Early life edit
Bostock was born on 15 July 1942 in Grafton, New South Wales, of the Bundjalung people.[1]
After spending nine years in the Australian Army, Bostock moved to Redfern, a suburb of Sydney, where he became involved in political activism.[2]
Activism and career edit
Bostock was involved in the struggles of Indigenous Australian people and took part in setting up the National Black Theatre in Sydney. He was also known as a healer.[1]
He made a substantial contribution to Australian literature as a playwright, poet and writer.[3]
His 1976 play Here Comes the Nigger was performed at the Black Theatre Arts and Culture Centre in Redfern, starring Athol Compton and Julie McGregor, with Marcia Langton in a supporting role.[4] Many of the cast were involved in the Black Women's Action group and its monthly publication Koori Bina.[5]
With Alec Morgan, he produced the 1983 documentary, Lousy Little Sixpence, which covers the treatment of Aboriginal Australians from 1900 to 1946.[6][7]
References edit
- ^ a b "Gerry Bostock ( 1942 – 2014)". First Nations Australia Writers Network. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ Riseman, Noah (2018). Ex-service activism after 1945 (PDF). Australian Catholic University.
- ^ "Gerry Bostock". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. University of Queensland. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ Boughton, Bob (1 December 1976). "Here comes the nigger". Tribune. No. 1978. New South Wales, Australia. p. 8. Retrieved 6 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Here comes the nigger". Tribune. No. 1978. New South Wales, Australia. 1 December 1976. p. 8. Retrieved 26 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Moore, Fiona (5 October 1983). "Lousy Little Sixpence". Tribune. No. 2303. New South Wales, Australia. p. 10. Retrieved 6 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Strong pair of documentaries on Aborigines". The Canberra Times. Vol. 58, no. 17, 551. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 18 October 1983. p. 20. Retrieved 6 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.