time when their rights were for the first time were starting to be considered and fought for. The Aborigines Progressive Association (APA) in Sydney lobbied for the rights of aborigines. The APA was formed in the 1920s in Sydney by a number of white Australians who were concerned about the state of Aborigines in this country. While they undertook their activities Aborigines were still being slaughtered. The situation of the Aborigines was inhumane in the 1920s but at least some of society was starting to notice.By the 1930s, white societys attitudes towards aborigines began to improve. The views of anthropologists that aboriginal society was not so much inferior as different began to be taken seriously. Writers emerged that favourably depicted aborigines and for once there was aboriginal leaders to motivate and fight for their people. During this decade there were various groups in society, both white and Aboriginal, that were working towards amending Aboriginal policy for the better.With the emergence of assorted protesting groups at the one time, social reform occurred at the end of the decade. The Aborigines Progressive Association was one of the groups that fought for Aborigines in the 1930s. It was re-established by William Ferguson, one of the first aboriginal activists, in 1937. The APA publicised past injustices against aboriginal people as well as the continuing inequality. They formed a delegation of aboriginal people who met with the then PM Joseph Lyon, where they demanded better housing, the old age and invalid pensions and maternity allowances for Aboriginal people. Meanwhile, 170 residents of Cummeragunja in NSW walked off the reserve in 1939 as a protest against the conditions under which they lived and the powers and conduct of the manager. As a result of the various protests, the Act (Aborigines Protection Act) was amended the following year, proving that aborigines could change their situation, though gradually. Alt...
