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Miles and Mabo: teacher and master

By Marg Powell, Specialist Library Technician, Metadata Services | 24 January 2022

Cultural Care statement (disclaimer)

Users are advised that this Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander material may contain culturally sensitive imagery and descriptions which may not normally be used in certain public or community contexts. Annotation and terminology which reflects the creator's attitude or that of the era in which the item was created may be considered inappropriate today. This material may also contain images, voices or names of deceased persons.

Bob Miles was teacher and mentor to a young Eddie Mabo who became a master of two cultures and paved the way for recognition of the traditional rights of the Meriam People to their islands in the eastern Torres Strait in 1992, and from which followed the Native Title Act 1993.

Robert 'Bob' Victor Miles who had trained as a teacher, enlisted in the Australian Army in 1939 and served in northern Queensland with the Australian Army Education Service, rising to the rank of Sergeant.

Jungle Camp, 1944

Signals camp under jungle camouflage, north Queensland, February 1944
27330 Robert Miles sketchbook of Thursday Island, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

After the war he returned to Queensland to take up a position as Relieving Teacher, with the Schools for Islanders, in the Torres Strait Islands, in 1946. A much admired man, known as a friend of all the students, he not only taught the children of the islands but was he keen to learn their language and encouraged them to use their own language in class.

Yorke Island School

Yorke Island (Masig) school building, Robert Miles, centre foreground.
Item 40, TR 1970 Miles Family photographs, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

In April 1951 Bob accompanied a group of 56 Torres Strait Islanders to the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds for Aboriginal Jubilee Week as part of the Commonwealth Jubilee celebrations. In an article published in the Brisbane Telegraph, Miles is quoted saying "Most of this group served in the war, some of them in Dutch New Guinea"

Torres Strait Islander returned servicemen

Torres Strait Islander returned servicemen: Left to right: Jimmy Wailu (Quentell) Q85044, Nagai Tabo Q85198, Benny Kudul, Dad Epseg Q85158, Arees Tapau Q85122.
Item 38, TR 1970 Miles Family photographs, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

Bob gained the attention of a young Edward 'Koiki' Mabo (1936–1992) a Meriam man who learnt more than just language from Miles, he also gained an understanding of 'mainland' culture.

Mabo, who lived with Bob for a time while his mother was ill, later reflected on the importance of his education. That, along with his confident use of language, self-assured public speaking and understanding of mainland politics, culminated in the land mark case Mabo v Queensland in 1992. The case, recognised the traditional rights of the Meriam People to their islands in the eastern Torres Strait.

Eddie Mabo

At left: Item 15, Eddie Koiki Mabo, 1953. At right: Item 6, Eddie Koiki Mabo, with his married sister Jessie and her young child, Millman Hill, Meriam Le, Thursday Island.
TR 1970 Miles Family photographs, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

Memories of those who lived in the Torres Strait during the 1940s & 1950s are documented in the collection of the Miles family, held by the John Oxley Library. They include a sketchbook, black and white photographs and an album of colour slides.

Robert Victor Miles

At left: Item 35, Bob Miles during his service in the Second World War; 
At right: Item 36, Bob Miles not long after his retirement, age 70
TR 1970 Miles Family photographs, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

Bob Miles resigned from his teaching position in 1958 and married Joan Froome, a nurse, he met while working on Thursday Island (Waiben or Waibene). He then accepted a position with the Educational Department of Fiji where he remained until his retirement age 70.

Commitment statement

This blog contains Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander content, which has been made available in accordance with State Library of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collections Commitments.

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