I would like to draw you attention to an actually good statue, one that could give us hope of an end to colonial and racist violence. I am of course talking about this one, Sir Doug and Lady Gladys Nicolls in Parliament Reserve, Spring St, right near the Victorian parliament. 
It's been there since 2007 and a lot of people don't know it's there. Of the people who know it's there not many are aware of its cultural and political significance.
Doug Nicolls was an Aboriginal man from the Yorta Yorta people and an important, active member of the AAL.
Doug Nicolls was an Aboriginal man from the Yorta Yorta people and an important, active member of the AAL.
The AAL was the Australian Aborigines League, a group who fought for Aboriginal rights for decades from the 1930s. The AAL's leader was William Cooper who organised perhaps the first petition against the Nazi's Krystallnacht way back in 1938.
Doug Nicolls was the first Aboriginal person in Australia to received a knighthood, for his services to the community and Aboriginal rights. He was also a preacher, had been a footballer and a tent boxer at carnivals.
Not long after his knighthood he became Governor of South Australia.
This remarkable man is all but forgotten in Australia. Historians and Victorian Aboriginal people know who he is and he's a hero to many but we are not taught about him or William Cooper in Australia.
This remarkable man is all but forgotten in Australia. Historians and Victorian Aboriginal people know who he is and he's a hero to many but we are not taught about him or William Cooper in Australia.
He stands in bronze in the gardens right near Parliament house, with Lady Gladys, herself a formidable activist. Remarkable to me is that he stands with his back to the house of parliament, like he is insulted or leaving them behind.
It's not uncommon to see flowers in the hand outstretched in oratory. Passers by place flowers in Doug's hand and they look great there. You can read more about the statue on the website of the City of Melbourne collection: citycollection.melbourne.vic.gov.au/pastor-sir-dou…
More on Doug Nicholls on Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_N…
*your attention 🤦🏾♀️
