Neville Bonner honoured with sculpture in Canberra

A bronze sculpture commemorating the life of Australia’s first Aboriginal parliamentarian has been unveiled in Canberra.

Jagera man Neville Bonner was appointed to fill a vacant seat in the Senate in 1971 and became the first Indigenous Australian to sit in the Commonwealth parliament.

Mr Bonner went on to be elected four times and served as a Liberal senator for Queensland for 12 years.

The sculpture, outside Old Parliament House, is based on a boomerang demonstration he undertook in the Senate Rose Gardens in 1971.

The bronze sculpture depicts the image of Neville Bonner when he served in the Senate.

“I think that is very significant in them being inspired by this statue, learning the stories of Neville Bonner and taking that into the next generations,” National Capital Authority chief executive Karen Doran said.

“It is in a location where it will be seen by visitors, by locals, but also by school students.”

It took four years to design and create the sculpture which was made by Melbourne-based Louis Laumen.

And the paving artwork below it features a carpet snake overlaid with a boomerang, which was made by David Doyle.

“Neville made history all those years ago when he took his place in the Senate and he will continue to do so with this statue commemorating the important part he played in our country’s political story,”Senator for the ACT Katy Gallagher said.

Mr Bonner was named Australian of the Year in 1979, and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1984.

Since Mr Bonner was elected, 15 First Nations Australians have served as federal politicians.