The history
The people
Our pics

Charlie Carter receives title deed to Lake Tyers

In 1957, the Victorian government accepted the recommendations of a report it had commissioned into Aboriginal affairs. Named after its principal author, retired Chief Stipendiary Magistrate Charles McLean, the McLean Report argued that Lake Tyers in south-eastern Victoria should be closed down, and that such an action would hasten the assimilation of Aboriginal Victorians into the mainstream community.

The government promised better quality houses as an inducement for people to leave Lake Tyers. The major drawback was that the houses were scattered around country towns and often a long way from home. Colin Tatz, a member of the Victorian Aborigines Welfare Board, disparagingly referred to this strategy as 'pepper potting'. The cost was high for those who moved - social isolation from friends and relatives. And once they left Lake Tyers, they were not permitted to return.

Lake Tyers was the only remaining Victorian reserve for Aboriginal people which was staffed. The fight to save it was supported by churches, unions and activist organisations, and the protest grew until it could not be ignored. This was a clash of ideas: assimilation of the Lake Tyers population into the mainstream community, or recognition that people had a right to stay on the Lake Tyers reserve - on land which was their home.

Campaign to save Lake Tyers

A coalition of activists forms

In May 1963, Melbourne-based bodies - the Australian Aborigines' League, the Victorian Aborigines Advancement League and the Council for Aboriginal Rights - launched a campaign to support residents who wished to save Lake Tyers. Pastor Doug Nicholls, a member of the Aborigines Welfare Board, disassociated himself from the Board's rehousing policy, stating: 'Assimilation in a forced manner will destroy my People's social structure and kill them as a people.'

Pauline Pickford, Honorary Secretary of the Council for Aboriginal Rights, had earlier visited the Lake Tyers community and established friendly relationships with people living there. Residents responded to her genuine interest in assisting them by writing letters describing their treatment. One woman complained that 'every time my husband comes here on to the mission to see us the manager always gets the police out here to chase him about just like an escaped convict'. Pickford encouraged people to join the Council for Aboriginal Rights. Two leaders of the campaign for Lake Tyers, Gene Mobourne and Laurie Moffatt, did become members and, along with other Lake Tyers residents, attended annual conferences of the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI) in Canberra.

Pastor Doug Nicholls told Melbourne Age readers how much birthplace meant to Aboriginal people and that moving people far from their homes was doomed to fail. He also pointed out that people had not been prepared for the change.

In 1971 the Victorian government handed the Lake Tyers title back to the community.

With many thanks to all the folk up at Lake tyers who welcomed us onto the settlement. Your hospitality and kindness will always be remembered. Thanks for the BBQ and the fun times we all had on the oval kicking the ball around.

We hope everyone enjoys these great Pics from the day.A special thanks to the Collingwood Football Club for the freebies in which all the kids and adults loved.

At lake Tyers

Outside the main hall where the BBQ was prepared

As soon as lil joffa spotted the gold jacket she was 
well and truly mesmerised.

Another Pic outside the community hall on Lake Tyers

Look at that for champion kicking action

Having a chat to the young blokes before the Barbie

And again this time with Shane on the right in green tee shirt

Many of the folk at Lake Tyers dont follow the Pies 
but had to have a Pic in the gold jacket

Me and troy givingf thanks in the community hall

Thanks to Collingwood for the box of freebies they gave us.

Everyone loved thew beanies and backpacks donated by Collingwood

Lil Joffa on the oval

With some kids getting ready to have a kick

Lil Joffa and friend

On the footy oval

With lil joffa in the gold jacket

At the footy oval sheds

Last but not least young joffa on far left with brother Simon and friend they met on the day. Just a magnificent day had by all.

On the way to Lake Tyers in Bairnsdale we met Rod and Gang