AustLit

'Isabel Coe, a Wiradjuri woman, was born in Cowra, New South Wales, and grew up in the Erambie Mission. She moved to Sydney in the late 1960s. She was one of the Aboriginal activists involved in setting up the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in January 1972, along with her husband Billy Craigie, Michael Anderson, Tony Coorey and Bertie Williams. The four men began the Tent Embassy by planting a beach umbrella on the lawn in front of Parliament House (now Old Parliament House) on 26 January 1972 to protest the then Federal Government's refusal to recognise Aboriginal land rights. The beach umbrella was soon replaced by several tents and supporters came from all parts of Australia to join the protest.' (Source : The Australian Women's Register website)