State Library of Queensland

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark decision which recognised in Australian law for the first time the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to their lands. State Library of Queensland invites members of the Torres Strait Islander community to acknowledge the remarkable life, politics, activism, and legacy of Eddie “Koiki” Mabo and celebrate the Legacy: Reflections on Mabo exhibition. Official Program 10.00am – 12.30pm Welcome to Country by the Nunukul Yuggera Aboriginal Dance Company Performance by the Gerib Sik Torres Strait Islanders Dance Troupe Distinguished guest speaker - Gail Mabo MC - Daniel Dow Queensland Terrace, level 2 10.00am - 5.00pm Legacy: Reflections on Mabo celebrates the man behind the game-changing Native Title Act, Eddie Koiki Mabo, and the ongoing influence and impact he has had on Australian society and culture. Curated by Gail Mabo, Dr Jonathan McBurnie and Kellie Williams, this travelling exhibition brings together 25 Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists in the spirit of reconciliation, 27 years after this historic achievement Philip Bacon Heritage Gallery, level 4 10.00am-  5.00pm Talbot Family Treasures Wall featuring Mabo Family Collection items including three printed shirts, worn by members of the Mabo family, which celebrate the landmark Mabo High Court case for Indigenous land rights in the Torres Strait. Talbot Family Treasures Wall, level 4 12.00pm-3.00pm The Black Gloves Experience will be an opportunity for community members to get up close with Torres Strait Islander content in the State Library collection, exploring heritage and contemporary resources including the impressive Margaret Lawrie Collection which is on the Australian register for UNESCO’s Memory of the World. White Gloves Room, level 4 12.00pm-3.00pm Screening of Re-told, a collection of online stories gathered in partnership with Torres Strait Islander language speakers and community members living in mainland Queensland. Members from Queensland's Torres Strait Islander community remember, reclaim and retell some of the selected stories and songs from the publication Myths and Legends of the Torres Strait by Margaret Lawrie. Heritage Collections Learning Room, level 4   Book now to join us!   Can't make it in person? If you can't make it to the State Library of Queensland, please join us online to watch the livestream. Register for the online event here.

Join us for a special award ceremony and afternoon tea to welcome our two newest black&write! Fellows. At the ceremony you will hear new work from First Nations writers and experience the Sovereign Stories: 10 years of black&write! exhibition. The black&write! Fellowships offer two Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writers: $10,000 prize, manuscript development with State Library of Queensland’s black&write! editorial team and a publishing opportunity with Hachette Australia. We are pleased to have Tristan Michael Savage as our MC for this event. Tristan is a Brisbane based Writer-Performer, and was a winner of the black&write! fellowship in 2013. black&write! is made possible through generous support from the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund, The Lionel & Yvonne Spencer Trust, The Brian J Sutton Charitable Trust and the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. We are proud to work with Hachette Australia as the black&write! Fellowship publishing partner.   If you have any questions that aren’t answered here, feel free to contact the State Library of Queensland at Indigenous.Writing@slq.qld.gov.au  Subscribe to be the first to know about our program of events.   

A special First 5 Forever session for babies 0-12months.  These sessions focus on baby-paced play, rhyme and shared story in a way that supports you as your baby’s most important educator – with plenty of opportunity to learn and grow together.  Baby Play takes place every Monday and Friday at 10am. No bookings required. First 5 Forever is an initiative of the Queensland Government and State Library of Queensland. It is delivered in The Corner and at public libraries across Queensland.