MS 7903
Papers of Neville Bonner (1922-1999)


Biographical Note

Federal politician. Bonner was the first Aboriginal Australian to sit in Federal Parliament. He was a Queensland Senator from 1971 to 1983.

Box List

Box 1          Personal papers                                                
               Family notes, birth extracts                                   
               Papers re marriage to Heather Ryan,1972, including photographs                                    
               Tax returns, bank statements                                   
               Notes and memos to Mrs Bonner                                  
               File re visit of friend Dr B.B. Forman, 1979                                                           
               Papers re Australian of the Year award, 1979                                                           
                                                                              
Box 2          Diaries, 1971-81                                               
                                                                              
Box 3          Political papers                                               
               Speeches, 1971-80                                              
               Papers re lack of support from the Country Party, 1972-3                                          
               Papers re the Governor of Queensland,                          
               Sir Colin Hannah, 1972-3
               Papers re Senate nominations, 1975-9                          
               Queensland Liberal Party branch mailings, 1975-9                                               
               Papers re dispute with Joh Bjelke-Petersen, 1980                                         
               Miscellaneous "historic papers"                                
                                                                              
Box 4          Parliamentary papers                                           
               Miscellaneous notes and correspondence taken from the Senator's home and office (unsorted)                                          
                                                                              
Box 5          Parliamentary subject files                                    
               Proposed ALP health scheme, 1973                               
               Abortion Bill, 1973                                            
               Palestine Liberation Organization, 1975                        
               R.E.D. Scheme, 1975                                            
               East Timor, 1975                                               
               Inflation, 1976                                                
               Referendums, 1977                                              
               Colin Lamont, 1977-8                                              
               Flag of Republic of China (Taiwan) flown at Consulate Dili East Timor during Senator Bonner's 
                 visit, 16 September 1975                                           
                                                                              
Box 6          Parliamentary subject files                                    
               Aged Persons Homes Act, 1972-5                                 
               Mrs Fay Bunnett, 1973                                          
               Representations on behalf of Mr C.P. Byrne re financial assistance for the "Kensington Cross 
                 Adventure" tourist scheme, 1973                                                   
               Family Law Bill, 1974-5                                        
               Mr W.T. Appleton, 1975-8                                       
                                                                              
Box 7          Parliamentarey subject files                                   
               Superannuation, 1976                                           
                                                                              
Box 8          Parliamentary subject files                                    
               Blocking supply, 1975                                          
               Larry Hoins and Endeavour Reef Expeditions, 1977                                              
               Abortion, 1978                                                 
               Iran, 1979                                                     
               Senate Standing Committee on Social Welfare, 1979                                                  
                                                                              
Box 9          Aboriginal affairs - Parliament Speech re Aborigines motion for compensation, Feb. 1975                                        
               Papers re Racial Discrimination Bill, 1975                                                           
               Private members bill re evidence and confessions, 1976                                              
               Hansard speeches, March/April 1976                             
               Joint Select Committee on Aboriginal Land Rights in the Northern Territory                                                      
                                                                              
Box 10         Aboriginal affairs                                             
               National Aboriginal Consultative Committee, 1973                                                
               Correspondence re Monday Conference, 1973                      
               File on Aborigines and black power, and Bobbi Sykes                                                    
               Reports on Ginder Gerrang Conference, 1975                                                           
               National Aboriginal Conference                                 
                                                                              
Box 11         Aboriginal affairs                                             
               Papers re land rights                                          
               Miscellaneous papers                                           
                                                                              
Box 12         Aboriginal affairs                                             
               Australian Fanciwoods, 1971                                    
               Copy of "Aborigines and black power" by Wal Browne, 1974                                               
               Moree Committee, 1976                                          
               Senate Select Committee on Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders, 1976                                                
               Torres Strait Islanders Dancing Co. fishing project, 1976                                          
               Boomerang Cooperative Housing Society, 1977-8                                                         
               National Lands Council, 1978                                   
               Aboriginal Clerical Support Staff, 1979                        
               Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, 1979                                                  
               John Barry Memorial Lecture, 1979 -"An Approach to Aboriginal criminology" by W. Clifford                                    
                                                                              
Box 13         Aboriginal affairs - people and places                         
               Bloomfield River community, 1971-2                             
               Richard Martin, 1972-3                                        
               Correspondence and cuttings re Nanango incident, 1973                                                 
               Toowoomba, 1974-7                                              
               William Davidson, 1975                                         
               Mount Isa incident, 1977-8                                     
               Mornington Island incident, 1978                               
               Eric Kyle - Bertoni incident,1979                                                                          
               Noonkanbah, 1980                                               
                                                                              
Boxes 14-16    Papers re Arukun and Mornington Island                        
                                                                              
Box 17         Itineraries, 1973-80                                           
                                                                              
                                                                              
Box 18         Overseas trips                                                 
               United Kingdom, 1975                                           
               Hawaii, 1974-5                                                 
               Fiji, 1977                                                     
               Canada, 1977                                                   
                                                                              
Box 19         Patronages and Presidencies                                    
               O.P.A.L. (One People of Australia League), 1968-78                                               
               Papers re miscellaneous patronages and presidencies                                                   
                                                                              
Box 20         Patronages and Presidencies                                    
               World Vision, 1976-9                                          
               Queensland Bush Children's Health Scheme, 1977-9                                              
               Uniting Church papers re Aurukun and Mornington Island                                              
               'Aboriginies: a statement of concern' by the Catholic Comission for Justice and Peace,                                              
                 and Senator Bonner's written response, 1978                                                
                                                                              
Box 21         Press cuttings,                            1969-71             

               See also folio run for cuttings scrapbook, 1971-72                                             
                                                                              
Box 22         Press cuttings,                            1972-76              
                                                                              
Box 23         Press cuttings,                            1977-78              
                                                                              
Box 24         Press cuttings,                            1979-80             

Boxes 25-50 CORRESPONDENCE, 1971-80

Box 25         A-B,                                       1971-3              
Box 26         C-G,                                       1971-3              
Box 27         H-Mac,                                     1971-3              
Box 28         M-R,                                       1971-3              
Box 29         S-Z, and general correspondence, 1972-73   1971-3              
Box 30         Unsorted, and general correspondence, 1974 1972-4              
Box 31         A-B,                                       1974-6              
Box 32         C-F,                                       1974-6              
Box 33         G-L,                                       1974-6              
Box 34         M-P,                                       1974-6              
Box 35         Q-S,                                       1974-6              
Box 36         T-Z,                                       1974-6              
Box 37         Unsorted,                                  1974-7              
Box 38         Unsorted,                                  1977                
Box 39         A-F,                                       1976-7              
Box 40         G-Mac                                      1975-8                                                       
Box 41         M-Q,                                       1975-8              
Box 42         R-V,                                       1975-8              
Box 43         W,                                         1975-8              
               Misc.,                                     1977-9              
               A                                          1978                
Box 44         B-H,                                       1978                
               Misc.,                                     1978                
Box 45         Misc.,                                     1978-9              
Box 46         A-C,                                       1979                
Box 47         D-H,                                       1979                
Box 48         I-O,                                       1979                
Box 49         P-S,                                       1979                
Box 50         T-Z,                                       1979                                                                           
                                                                              
Box 51         Letters of congratulation received,        1971-7              
                                                                              
Box 52         Thankyou letters sent and Christmas card lists                                                          
                                                                              
Box 53         Invitations completed,                     1971-7              
                                                                              
Box 54         Invitations completed,                     1978-80             
                                                                              
Box 55         Invitations declined,                      1971, 1976-9        
                                                                              
Box 56         Invitations declined,                      1978-80             
               
               Photographs                                                    
               (see also folio package for large photo portrait, 1973)                                                
                                                                              
Box 57         Telegrams,                                 1973-9         






Addition 4 June 1999


Box 57         Memorabilia from the last year and funeral of Senator Neville
               Bonner. Also includes two photographs of Bonner's grandfather
               Jung Jung, during the filming of 'Sons of Mathew' (1949).