Smith, Celia (1911-1980)

Field of activity
Aboriginal rights activist and community worker
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-769058

Biographies

Celia Smith was one of the unsung heroes of the early Aboriginal rights movement, helping hundreds obtain their social welfare rights, taking up their cases with politicians and bureaucrats. As an early member of the Queensland Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (QCAATSI), Celia took over from poet Kath Walker as its honorary secretary. She was also a delegate to its federal counterpart, the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI). From 1970 Celia wrote a regular column in the QCAATSI monthly newsletter in which she discussed issues of land rights, conditions on reserves, wages, and housing for Aborigines. She campaigned vigorously for a 'yes' vote in the successful 1967 referendum to empower the commonwealth government to legislate on Aboriginal affairs. She was often 'on duty' at the 'tent embassy' set up in 1974 at King George Square, Brisbane, to publicise the need for more Aboriginal housing in the city and to protest against the State's repressive Aborigines and Torres Strait Islander Affair Act in 1965. In the 1970s Celia belonged to the Queensland branch of the Union of Australian Women, and kept the organisation informed of matters affecting Aborigines. This entry has been made in accordance with the appropriate family protocols.

Celia Hatton was one of five children of Aboriginal parents William 'Pompey' Hatton, an initiated man, and his wife Dorothy 'Dolly' Tate, one of the Stolen Generation. Dolly was taken from her family in Tambo when only five years old to be trained as a domestic in a Brisbane Catholic girls school. Celia grew up in Dalby and at 18 gave birth to Charles, the son of Charles Banks, however they never married. In 1932 she married Ernie Smith and the couple moved to Toowoomba, a town steeped in racism at that time. Celia and Ernie separated after 8 years of marriage, leaving Celia to raise four children on her own.

Celia and the children moved into a house in Fortitude Valley, where Celia eked out a living on a deserted wife's pension, supplementing her income with sewing. Well loved and widely known, 'Aunty' Celia helped the growing urban Aboriginal community in practical ways with fundraising, food, shelter and clothing. Celia Smith spent a lifetime giving and her home was always open to those in need. She died of renal failure in Brisbane on Christmas Eve 1980.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

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  1. Smith, Cecilia (1911-1980)
    ... SMITH, CECILIA (1911-1980), matriarch and Aboriginal activist, was born on 24 ...
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  2. Smith, Celia
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  1. Website: Dick Smith Electronics
    www.dse.com.au
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  2. Website: Kimberley Foundation Australia
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  3. Website: Firebreak
    msowww.anu.edu.au
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  1. Talking about Celia-- : community and family memories of Celia Smith / Jeanie Bell, in collaboration with Celia Smith's eldest son, Charles
    Bell, Jeanie
    [ Audio book, Book : 1997-2002 ]
    At 80 libraries
    Talking about Celia-- : community and family memories of Celia Smith / Jeanie Bell, in collaboration with Celia Smith's eldest son, Charles
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  2. Rattling in the wind : Australian poems for children / selected by Jill Heylen and Celia Jellett ; illustrated by Maire Smith
    Heylen, Jill
    [ Book, Audio book : 1987-1990 ]
    At 74 libraries
    Rattling in the wind : Australian poems for children / selected by Jill Heylen and Celia Jellett ; illustrated by Maire Smith
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  3. The social construction of lesbianism / Celia Kitzinger
    Kitzinger, Celia
    [ Book : 1987 ]
    At 34 libraries
    The social construction of lesbianism / Celia Kitzinger
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  4. Consumer culture / Celia Lury
    Lury, Celia
    [ Book : 1996-2011 ]
    At 47 libraries
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  1. Heidi / Johanna Spyri
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    [ Book, Audio book : 1800-2013 ]
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  2. Idyls and pastorals / by Celia Thaxter ; a home gallery of poetry and art ..
    Thaxter, Celia, 1835-1894
    [ Book, Published : 1886 ]
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  3. Smith (Donna M.) Papers
    Smith, Donna M., 1919-1992
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    [ Audio book, Book : 1997-2002 ]
    At 80 libraries
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    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.922)

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  2. Rattling in the wind : Australian poems for children / selected by Jill Heylen and Celia Jellett ; illustrated by Maire Smith
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    [ Book, Audio book : 1987-1990 ]
    At 74 libraries
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  3. Heidi / Johanna Spyri
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    [ Book, Audio book : 1800-2013 ]
    Languages: English, German, Chinese, [18 others]
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    At 143 libraries
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  1. Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works detail plan
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  2. Suitability of parametric models to describe the hydraulic properties of an unsaturated coarse sand and gravel
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  3. A comparison of methods to determine K in a shallow coastal aquifer. (hydraulic conductivity)
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    ... Smith, Celia Ghiloni, Jean Keith and The Kiddies; Coming Features It; '('?' Phil Smith has no cause to ... lauehter he '?'?4 creates during a performance to realise _ that. ?fr Mr. Smith gets his biggest laughs in an intcr ?j? lude with Celia Ghiloni. In this he is attired '?'?'? as an old dame, and ... 558 words
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  2. Books to Read
    The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982) Saturday 12 February 1938 p 26 Article
    ... Books to Read ! I I "OWORD AND THE ROSE." j J A. W. Smith. Regimental J ? life in India. "HAVING NO HEART." I j George Goodchild. Well-written J I detective yarn. ยป "CELIA." E. H. Yourie I ? Masterly character study. ... 43 words
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  3. THARGOMINDAH CONFIRMEES.
    The Charleville Times (Brisbane, Qld. : 1896 - 1954) Friday 16 November 1934 p 6 Article
    ... THARGOMINDAH CONFIRMEES. The children confirmed by Bishop Dixon at Thargomindah recently were: Frank Emery, Melville Ward. Kenneth Teelow, James Easton, Ron ald Keane. Neville Easton. John Wartf. Joan Gooch, Edith Easton. Eileen Smith, Constance Smith, Celia Smith, Maud Thomas, Myrtle Thomas. Joan ... 56 words
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  1. Reconstructing criminal law : text and materials / Nicola Lacey, Celia Wells, Oliver Quick
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  2. Do Childminders Care? Ann Goddard and Celia Smith
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  3. Violent crime in England and Wales / Celia Smith, Jonathan Allen
    Smith, Celia
    [ Article : 2004 ]
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  4. Celia Franca (1921-2007).(Biography)
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