Gerry Bostock (15 July 1942 – 16 May 2014) was a Bundjalung activist, playwright, poet and filmmaker.

Early life

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Bostock was born on 15 July 1942 in Grafton, New South Wales, of the Bundjalung people.[1]

After spending nine years in the Australian Army, Bostock moved to Redfern, a suburb of Sydney, where he became involved in political activism.[2]

Activism and career

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Bostock was involved in the struggles of Indigenous Australian people and took part in setting up the National Black Theatre in Sydney. He was also known as a healer.[1]

He made a substantial contribution to Australian literature as a playwright, poet and writer.[3]

His 1976 play Here Comes the Nigger was performed at the Black Theatre Arts and Culture Centre in Redfern, starring Athol Compton and Julie McGregor, with Marcia Langton in a supporting role.[4] Many of the cast were involved in the Black Women's Action group and its monthly publication Koori Bina.[5]

With Alec Morgan, he produced the 1983 documentary, Lousy Little Sixpence, which covers the treatment of Aboriginal Australians from 1900 to 1946.[6][7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Gerry Bostock ( 1942 – 2014)". First Nations Australia Writers Network. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  2. ^ Riseman, Noah (2018). Ex-service activism after 1945 (PDF). Australian Catholic University.
  3. ^ "Gerry Bostock". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. University of Queensland. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  4. ^ Boughton, Bob (1 December 1976). "Here comes the nigger". Tribune. No. 1978. New South Wales, Australia. p. 8. Retrieved 6 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Here comes the nigger". Tribune. No. 1978. New South Wales, Australia. 1 December 1976. p. 8. Retrieved 26 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ Moore, Fiona (5 October 1983). "Lousy Little Sixpence". Tribune. No. 2303. New South Wales, Australia. p. 10. Retrieved 6 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Strong pair of documentaries on Aborigines". The Canberra Times. Vol. 58, no. 17, 551. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 18 October 1983. p. 20. Retrieved 6 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.