Gary Foley

{{Short description|Aboriginal Australian activist, academic and actor (born 1950)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}} {{infobox person | image = Gary-Foley-1972.jpg | caption =Foley in 1972, speaking at a black Moratorium (Sydney University) | name = Gary Edward Foley | birth_place = [[Grafton, New South Wales]], Australia | birth_date= {{birth_date and age|1950|5|11|df=yes}} | occupation = Activist, writer, actor, playwright | known_for = Founder of the [[Aboriginal Tent Embassy]] | awards = [[Red Ochre Award]] }}

'''Gary Edward Foley''' (born 11 May 1950) is an [[Aboriginal Australians|Aboriginal Australian]] activist of the [[Gumbaynggirr]] people, academic, writer and actor. He is best known for his role in establishing the [[Aboriginal Tent Embassy]] in [[Canberra]] in 1972 and for establishing an [[Aboriginal Legal Service]] in [[Redfern, New South Wales|Redfern]] in the 1970s. He also co-wrote and acted in the first [[Indigenous Australian]] stage production, ''[[Basically Black]]''.

{{as of|August 2022}} Foley is Professor, Moondani Balluk Indigenous Academic Unit, at [[Victoria University, Australia|Victoria University]].

==Early years== [[File:Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Parkes (3).jpg|thumb|right|200px|Foley co-founded the [[Aboriginal Tent Embassy]] in [[Canberra]]]]

Gary Edward Foley was born in 1950 in [[Grafton, New South Wales]], of Gumbaynggirr descent, and spent much of his childhood in [[Nambucca Heads]]. He was expelled from school at the age of 15 and arrived in Redfern aged 17 in around 1967. He worked as an apprentice [[drafter|draughtsman]].<ref name=koorihist>{{cite web|last1=Foley|first1=Gary|title=Who is he?|url=http://www.kooriweb.org/foley/whoisgf/who_is_he.html|website=The Koori History Website| access-date=6 August 2022}}</ref>

==Activism and politics== Foley became involved in the "[[black power]]" movement active in Redfern soon after arrival.<ref name=SMH/> The movement was inspired by the American [[Black Panther Party]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Black Power in White Australia |url=https://www.jacobinmag.com/2020/01/black-power-white-australia-aboriginal-movement-gary-foley |website=jacobinmag.com |access-date=13 May 2020}}</ref>

Foley played an active role in organising protests against the [[South Africa national rugby union team|Springboks]] in 1971 as a result of the [[Apartheid]] policies in [[South Africa]]. At one stage, Foley and fellow protester [[Billy Craigie]] were arrested for wearing Springbok jerseys outside the team motel in [[Bondi Junction]] with the police believing they had been stolen when they had been supplied by former [[Australia national rugby union team|Wallabies]] player Jim Boyce. As a result of the level of protests against the Springboks, an Australian tour by the [[South African cricket team]] later that year was cancelled and the two-decade exile of South African sporting teams commenced.<ref name=SMH>{{cite news|author1=Stephen Gibbs|title=One man's sorry tale|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/one-mans-sorry-tale/2005/07/08/1120704559096.html|publisher=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=9 July 2005}}</ref>

In 1972, Foley was appointed a public relations officer in the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. He was fired from the department after just six weeks, after three warnings, and then secretary [[Barrie Dexter]] urged [[Australian Security Intelligence Organisation|ASIO]] to spy on Foley.<ref name=Daley>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/postcolonial-blog/2015/may/29/book-opens-pandoras-box-of-sad-tales-but-true-of-indigenous-experience|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|title=When two old foes opened Pandora's box, it unleashed an unlikely reconciliation|first=Paul|last=Daley|date=29 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601154357/http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/postcolonial-blog/2015/may/29/book-opens-pandoras-box-of-sad-tales-but-true-of-indigenous-experience|archive-date=1 June 2015}}</ref>

Foley co-founded the [[Aboriginal Tent Embassy]] in 1972<ref name=koorihist/> outside [[Old Parliament House, Canberra|Parliament House]] to highlight Aboriginal disadvantage. The Tent Embassy is still in place despite ongoing controversy and has been nominated for the heritage list. It helped raise the profile of Aboriginal issues prior to the election of the [[Whitlam government]].{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} He was also involved in the formation of the Aboriginal Legal Service in Redfern and the Aboriginal Medical Service in [[Melbourne]] and [[Sydney]].<ref name=koorihist/>

Foley set up the first Aboriginal Information Centre in London. On returning to Australia, he organised protests against the [[1982 Commonwealth Games|Brisbane Commonwealth Games]] held in 1982. In 1988, he organised Aboriginal protests against the [[Australian Bicentenary]] in 1988 before becoming a consultant to the [[Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody]].{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

He ran as an independent candidate for the seat of [[Division of Jagajaga|Jagajaga]] at the [[1993 Australian federal election|1993 federal election]] in protest against the closure of Northlands Secondary College.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Cooper | first1=Alex | last2=Boyle | first2=Peter | title=Community groups continue anti-Kennett protests | website=[[Green Left (Australian newspaper)|Green Left]] | date=25 October 2015 | url=https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/4611 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025094827/https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/4611 | archive-date=25 October 2015 | url-status=unfit | access-date=6 August 2022}}</ref>

During the [[2018 Victorian state election]], Foley endorsed the [[Victorian Socialists]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dance |first1=Felix |title=Could Victorian Socialists be about to make history? |url=https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/could-victorian-socialists-be-about-make-history |access-date=18 July 2019 |work=Green Left Weekly |date=1 November 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Foley opposed the [[Indigenous Voice to Parliament|voice]] during the [[2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum|2023 Indigenous Voice Referendum]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Bianca |date=2023-01-26 |title=Division over Voice as huge crowd turns out for Invasion Day rally |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/we-are-sovereign-tens-of-thousands-take-to-streets-for-invasion-day-rally-20230126-p5cfpr.html |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | last1=Foley | first1=Gary | last2=Gibson | first2=Padraic |date=2023-10-02 | title=The Use and Abuse of History in the Voice Referendum debate |url=https://overland.org.au/2023/10/the-use-and-abuse-of-history-in-the-voice-referendum-debate-an-interview-with-professor-gary-foley/| access-date= 10 January 2024 |website=Overland| language=en}}</ref>

He has described himself as an [[Anarchism in Australia|anarchist]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://kooriweb.org/foley/whoisgf/age20mar93.html |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=kooriweb.org}}</ref>

==Stage, film and TV== Foley co-wrote and appeared in ''[[Basically Black]]'', the first Aboriginal stage production, in 1972.<ref>{{cite web|title=Foley, Gary Edward|url=http://www.historysmiths.com.au/CentFedPlayKit/biogs/oz_all/foley_gary.htm|publisher=HistorySmiths|access-date=11 July 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315230536/http://www.historysmiths.com.au/CentFedPlayKit/biogs/oz_all/foley_gary.htm|archive-date=15 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1978, he travelled to Europe as part of a group that took Aboriginal films to the [[Cannes Film Festival]] and then to other parts of the continent.<ref name=koorihist/>

As an actor, Foley's film career includes starring in [[Philip Noyce]]'s film ''[[Backroads (1977 film)|Backroads]]'' (1977) and appearing in ''[[Dogs in Space]]''. He also made guest appearances on television shows ''[[A Country Practice]]'' and ''[[The Flying Doctors]]''.<ref name=koorihist/>

He featured in various documentary series and films, such as "Fair Play" in 2010 (episode 4 of ''Have you Heard From Johannesburg: Stories From the Global Anti-Apartheid Movement 1948–1990''); ''The Redfern Story'' (2014), ''[[Person of Interest (Australian TV series)|Persons of Interest]]'' (2014), an award-winning TV series on ASIO,<ref>{{cite web | title=Persons of Interest | website=Smart Street Films | url=https://www.smartstreetfilms.com.au/catalogue/persons-of-interest-dvd | access-date=6 August 2022}}</ref> and the 2002 film ''[[The Foundation (film)|The Foundation]]'', which tells of [[Koori]] history between 1963 and 1977 in Sydney.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Foundation (NIDF series 5) | website=[[Ronin Films]] | url=https://www.roninfilms.com.au/feature/803/foundation-nidf-series.html | access-date=6 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=The Foundation | website=Chili Films | url=https://chilifilms.com.au/product/the-foundation | access-date=6 August 2022}}</ref>

==Academic career== Foley completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at the [[University of Melbourne]] in 2000, with majors in History and Cultural Studies, before completing a first class honours degree in history in 2002.<ref name=koorihist/>

In 2001, he was appointed senior curator at [[Museum Victoria]], a position he held until 2005, when he became a lecturer in the Education Faculty of the University of Melbourne. In 2008 he was appointed senior lecturer in history and politics at Moondani Balluk centre at [[Victoria University, Australia|Victoria University]].<ref name=koorihist/>

Foley completed his doctorate at the University of Melbourne in 2013, for which he was awarded the Chancellor's Award for Excellence.<ref name=koorihist/> He was at some time a senior lecturer at [[Swinburne University of Technology|Swinburne University]].<ref name=vu/>

{{as of|August 2022}} Foley works as a professor at [[Victoria University, Australia|Victoria University]].<ref name=vu>{{cite web|title=Professor Gary Edward Foley|url=https://www.vu.edu.au/contact-us/gary-edward-foley|publisher=Victoria University| access-date=6 August 2022}}</ref>

Foley participated in the [[Melbourne Free University]] project.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Cowlishaw |first1=Gillian |last2=Gibson |first2=Lorraine |date=March 2012 |title="Introduction: Locating an Australia-wide Anthropology" |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23209613 |journal=Oceania |volume=82 |issue=1 |pages=4–14 |doi=10.1002/j.1834-4461.2012.tb00115.x |jstor=23209613 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==Other roles==  Foley was the first Indigenous director of the [[Aboriginal Arts Board]] of the [[Australia Council]] between 1983 and 1986 and held other leadership positions in the Aboriginal community.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

In 1994 he created the first Aboriginal-owned and -operated website, ''The Koori History Website'', aka ''Kooriweb''.<ref name=vu/>

A 1995 photo portrait of Foley by the artist [[Destiny Deacon]] was exhibited in the [[National Gallery of Victoria]] in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Convery |first1=Stephanie |title=Destiny Deacon on humour in art, racism, 'Koori kitsch' and why dolls are better than people |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/nov/24/destiny-deacon-on-humour-in-art-racism-koori-kitsch-and-why-dolls-are-better-than-people |work=The Guardian |date=23 November 2020 |access-date=10 November 2024}}</ref>

==Awards== The [[Australia Council for the Arts]] is the arts funding and advisory body for the Government of Australia. Since 1993, it has awarded a [[Red Ochre Award]]. It is presented to an outstanding Indigenous Australian (Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander) artist for lifetime achievement.

{{awards table}} |- | [[Red Ochre Award|2015]] | Gary Foley<ref>{{cite web|title=Foley honoured with $50,000 indigenous art prize|url=https://www.vu.edu.au/about-vu/news-events/media-releases/foley-honoured-with-50000-indigenous-art-prize|publisher=Victoria University|access-date=27 September 2022}}</ref> | Red Ochre Award | {{yes2|Awarded}} |- {{end}}

In 2021 Foley was awarded the [[Jerusalem (Al Quds) Peace Prize]], which "recognises the inspirational and lifelong contributions of an individual advocating for Palestinian freedom, justice and self-determination".<ref name=jpp>{{cite web |title=Jerusalem Peace Prize |website=Australia Palestine Advocacy Network - APAN |date=3 February 2026 |url=https://apan.org.au/events/jpp/ |access-date=10 February 2026}}</ref>

He was elected a Fellow of the [[Australian Academy of the Humanities]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fellow Profile: Gary Foley |url=https://humanities.org.au/fellows/fellow-profile/?fellow_id=1258 |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=Australian Academy of the Humanities |language=en-AU}}</ref>

== See also == * [[Anarchism in Australia]]

==Books== * Foley, G.; Schaap, A.; and Howell, E. (eds.) (2014) ''The Aboriginal Tent Embassy: Sovereignty, Black Power, Land Rights and the State'', Routledge: London * [[Barrie Dexter|Dexter, Barrie]] (2015) ''Pandora's Box: The Council for Aboriginal Affairs 1967–1976''. Foley, G. and Howell, E. (eds) Keeaira Press: Southport QLD.

==References== {{Reflist}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20050620064758/http://www.brisbanewritersfestival.com.au/2004/content/standard_c1.asp?name=FoleyG Brisbane Writers Festival biography of Foley] * Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies ''The Encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Australia: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Society and Culture'', 1994, Vol. 1, {{ISBN|0-85575-234-3}}

== External links == * {{IMDb name|284140}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foley, Gary}} [[Category:1950 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Australian non-fiction writers]] [[Category:Australian Indigenous rights activists]] [[Category:Indigenous Australian male actors]] [[Category:Academic staff of Victoria University (Australia)]] [[Category:Australian anarchists]] [[Category:Fellows of the Australian Academy of the Humanities]] [[Category:21st-century anarchists]]