An extraordinary Australian

Norman Baird was an extraordinary Australian. As a young man he fought to defend the rights of Australians in World War I only to come home and fight for his own freedom and that of his children. As an old man and almost blind, Norman recorded an ancient language and preserved part of a unique Australian culture.

Norman’s mother was an indigenous Australian and his father was native to Scotland. He learnt skills from both cultures: reading and writing, mining and hunting, English and Kuku Yalanji - skills that served him from the jungles of Far North Queensland to the battlefields of Europe.

Norman was well known in Far North Queensland and was respected by both his mother and father’s people. He was a leader and an advocate for the Kuku Yalanji people but his campaign to protect their rights brought him into conflict with the authorities, and historical documents reveal a campaign to discredit him.

Norman’s story has remained untold, so many Bama do not know of the contribution he made to their welfare nor do they know of the obstacles he had to overcome in order to help protect their rights. For Bama, Norman’s story provides an opportunity to celebrate the life of a great man, to learn and be strengthened from the adversity of the past and to have an opportunity to claim a part in mainstream Australian celebrations such as Anzac Day.

For Waybal, Norman’s story provides an opportunity to glimpse the history of Far North Queensland - a shared history, and one that needs to be told so that common ground can be found to strengthen and unite Australian communities.