Alice Dixon
One of Australia's great fighters for justice has died. Her spirit, courage and sense of unity, however, continues to live in the hearts of the thousands of people she inspired.
Alice Dixon was a Kaurna woman, known throughout Australia and internationally for her untiring struggle to expose and stop the deaths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody. Alice was a loving mother and grandmother of seven children.
She joined the National Committee to defend Black Rights (CDBR) in 1987, immediately after losing her 19-year-old son, Kingsley, in Adelaide Jail. Despite the unending grief from this loss, Alice accepted a role at the forefront of the struggle.
In 1989, Alice was elected to the National Executive of the CDBR. She represented CDBR at national and international conferences and as media spokesperson publicising continuing black deaths in custody and other injustices. Alice completed the University of New South Wales Diplomacy Training Program in order to monitor the human rights abuses of Aboriginal people and highlight their occurrences in the United Nations and other forums. Alice was recently planning a 12-week trip to Europe to carry on this work.
Despite attempts to silence her with defamation suits and imprisonment, Alice continued to speak frankly and courageously. Alice was barred from entering jails in South Australia. Alice did not accept the finding of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody inquiry into her son's death.
Alice was motivated by a love for her people and humankind. Her commitment to unity and determination to stop others from suffering the same fate as her son motivated her work with everyone from the imprisoned to police officers.
Alice was named Aboriginal Woman of the Year in Adelaide. Her strength inspired countless people, black and white, to join the struggle for justice. Alice also worked with the SA Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Watch Committee.
In working with all people, including those responsible for the suffering of her family and people, she showed us the humanity in others.
Alice will be lovingly remembered and honoured by all who knew her and by all who value a just Australia. — National Committee to Defend Black Rights.