Tommy McRae fights back

The odds were against an Aborigine wishing to fight a settler in court. But Tommy McRae believed he had a right to stand up for his community.

In 1897, Aboriginal artist Tommy McRae took a photographer to court for breaking an agreement he had made with members of McRae's community.

Tommy McRae and his friend, John Friday, accused photographer Thomas Cleary of not paying members of the Lake Moodemere community for their work as models:

Tommy McRae [...] gave evidence that the arrangement was made near the Corowa post office. They were to get £10, and had been promised a cheque when the work was done. They had not received the money.

– Corowa Free Press, 4 June 1897

Cleary insisted that he hadn't been able to take the photos because McRae and his companions refused to follow his instructions. He claimed that this was because the models - including McRae - were drunk:

...the defendant [Cleary] said the bad results complained of were caused by the aboriginals taking too much drink, and he had had ocular demonstration of its evil effects upon them. He could do nothing with them. He could call witnesses to the bench if so desired.

– Corowa Free Press, 4 June 1897

McRae was in fact a well-known teetotaller, widely respected for his dislike of the introduction of alcohol to his community. Despite this, the judge quickly rejected McRae's complaint based on Cleary's argument that the Aborigines had been drunk. The case was dismissed.

While this unsuccessful result for McRae was discouraging, he continued to stand up and fight for the fair treatment of his people throughout his life.