farewell Burnum Burnum, fighter for his people

Aboriginal actor and activist Burnum Burnum passed away on 17 August 1997. Born in 1936 as Henry Penrith, Burnum Burnum is a multi-talented a man in sports, in public services and in arts and media.

A high-profile actor since the 1980s, he is, more importantly, always remembered as a man dedicated his life and his multi-talents to his people, through his commitments to black community schools in the educational arena in the 70s, as well as through his participation in various Aboriginal affairs, movement since 60s, particularly his symbolic planting of an Aboriginal flag on the white cliffs of Dover during the 1988 Bicentennial year claiming sovereignty over Great Britain in the name of Australian indigenous people, which made him famous.

Arts Alive pays a tribute to the late Burnum Burnum, reviving his moment on the Dover cliffs, while Matt Peacock spoke to Chicka Dixon, an former associate of Burnum Burnum, on the activist's life. (Interview appears courtesy of ABC radio's PM)

Burnum Burnum's life was celebrated in a service at the Uniting Church in the southern Sydney suburb of Jannalli attended by over 600 people.

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