A bronze statue of Aboriginal rights activist William Ferguson has been unveiled at his hometown in rural New South Wales.
The statue, created by sculptor Brett Garling, was unveiled on Saturday in Dubbo, 400km northwest of Sydney.
It came about after five years of lobbing efforts led by his descendants and supporters.
Mr Ferguson was best known for organising the National Day of Mourning in 1938, the precursor to NAIDOC Week.
He died in 1950, from hypertensive heart failure, collapsing after what would be his final speech.
Dubbo Mayor, Ben Shields, said it was important to recognise Mr Ferguson and his achievements.
“Dubbo Regional Council is proud to be part of the efforts to commemorate this great man,” he said.
“I believe all people who live, work and visit this region should know who Bill is."
Local state MP, Dugald Saunders, also expressed hope that more people learnt about Mr Ferguson and his legacy.
“There’s little doubt Bill Ferguson had a profound impact on Aboriginal rights, and his passion for the cause should be celebrated and remembered, particularly in the region he called home,” he said.
