On 29th June 1936, Eddie Koiki Mabo was born in a community called Las on Mer (Murray Island) in the Torres Strait. He was originally known as Eddie Koiki Sambo but was adopted by his uncle Benny Mabo later on in his life and became Eddie Koiki Mabo. When he was 16 years old, Eddie was sent away from the island to work across Northern Queensland. He then settled in Townsville in 1962 with his new family. Yumba Meta was an association in Townsville, known for purchasing homes using government funds and Eddie was elected as a president of the association. In 1973, he established Australia’s first Black Community. Murray Island was always controlled by the Queensland Government during Eddie’s childhood but that didn’t seem to change the history of the Island or the lifestyle the Meriam people …show more content…
However, the laws and ratcheting racism pushed Eddie off the edge; in 1982, he commenced a legal action, claiming customary ownership of their lands on Mer, in the Supreme Court of Australia. It was then long forgotten until 1990 when Justice Martin Moynihan handed down his judgement. With a highly critical opinion about Eddie, he rejected Mabo’s claim to land on Murray Island. Instead of appealing the decision, Eddie made a decision to proceed with the hearings before a full bench of the High Court of Australia. In 1991, the proceedings concluded, nonetheless, Eddie had fallen ill and died before the Court’s decision overturning terra nullius was delivered in 1992.
A radical decision regarding the Mabo was delivered on the 3rd of June in 1992 by the High Court of Australia. This case was titled ‘Mabo vs. Queensland’, and it involved entitlements of the Mariam people for their native title of Murray Islands. This native title emanates