Elder: 'I'll never give up fight for rights'

Yesterday, the Illawarra mining and indigenous activist, now 90, joined dozens of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Illawarra residents to further the push to recognise indigenous people in the constitution.

Proponents of the campaign argue the constitution still includes the possibility for race-based discrimination and ignores Aboriginal people and their role as traditional owners of Australia.

Mr Moore, an honorary elder known as Uncle Fred, attended yesterday's Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation event to share recollections of battling for Aboriginal rights in the 1960s and to urge people to join the campaign.

"I think most people know that some years ago it was a dreadful state of affairs for Aboriginal people ... they had no rights and they weren't counted in the census or constitution," he said.

He said thousands of signatures gathered by the South Coast Aboriginal Advancement League played a significant role in bringing on the national 1967 referendum, which meant indigenous people could be counted as part of the Australian population.

"Since then it's been easier going for Aboriginal people, but we've got a long long way to go yet," Mr Moore said.

"It's vitally important now to take up the fight to see that Aboriginal people are not only in the constitution but to gain their national rights as indigenous people and the owners of the land.

Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council chief Sharralyn Robinson said it meant a lot to have Mr Moore speak at the event.

"He has always fought for rights, especially here at Coomaditchie, and we will never forget what he and the trade union did for our people here," Ms Robinson said.

Pictured: Aboriginal community supporters, from left, Lorraine Brown, honorary elder and speaker Fred Moore and Narelle Thomas. Photo: GREG TOTMAN