Kevin Gilbert (1933-1993) was born in Condobolin, New South Wales of the Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi peoples. He left school after fifth grade at age fourteen, and worked in itinerant seasonal jobs. In 1957 Gilbert was sentenced to life imprisonment after a domestic dispute in which his wife was killed. During the fourteen years that he spent in some of the worst jails in Australia he strove to educate himself, honing his artistic talents to become a prominent poet, playwright, printmaker (Gilbert was Australia's first recognised Aboriginal printmaker) and photographer (see: http://www.nga.gov.au/retake/artists/00000004.htm ).
Kevin Gilbert on public opinion, the original theft, government compounding the felony and restitution: “Two hundred years after the original theft it is still possible for public opinion to make governments cease compounding the felony and to make restitution for to the victims”. [1].
[1]. Quoted in Colin Tatz, “With Intent to Destroy. Reflecting on Genocide”, Verso, London, 2003, p157.