Aborigines Progressive Association (APA)

The Aborigines Progressive Association (APA) is established by William Ferguson, Pearl Gibbs and Jack Patten in Dubbo. Ferguson and Gibbs lead a group in the western part of the state, while Patten assembles an alliance of activists in the north-east. Both wings of the APA are involved in political organisation, rallies, and protests in Aboriginal communities and reserves and major NSW centres. Charlie Frost opens Dubbo’s APA first public meeting in June that launches the APA and draws attention to the ill treatment of Aboriginal people and deplorable conditions on Reserves. The APA follows on with a meeting called the Day of Mourning held at Australia Hall in Sydney on Australia Day 1938 to protest against 150 years of European settlement.