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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

The Hon Gough Whitlam, Ossie Cruse and Michael Anderson

1981 (printed 2003)
Juno Gemes

gelatin silver photograph on paper, edition 1/2 (sheet: 50.9 cm x 60.6 cm, image: 29.1 cm x 44.1 cm)

The Hon Edward Gough Whitlam AC QC (1916–2014) was prime minister of Australia from 1972 to 1975. As prime minister he famously returned traditional lands in the Northern Territory to the Gurindji people and his government drafted the first Commonwealth legislation to grant land rights to Aboriginal people. Ossie Cruse AM MBE (b. 1933), Aboriginal elder, pastor and former National Aboriginal Conference chairman, is a prominent campaigner for reconciliation and social justice for Australia’s indigenous peoples. Ghillar Michael Anderson was one of four Aboriginal activists who set up the original tent embassy opposite Old Parliament House on Australia Day 1972.

In 1981, Whitlam joined Cruse and Anderson on a tour of Africa, to advise Commonwealth Heads of Government of the discrimination against Aboriginal people in Australia. Juno Gemes, who has spent much of her career documenting the leading figures and moments in the struggle for Indigenous rights, photographed the three men at a press conference at Sydney Airport before their departure. Many of Gemes' portraits of Indigenous activists were exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in Proof: Portraits from the Movement 1978–2003.

Gift of the artist 2005. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2024

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Juno Gemes (age 37 in 1981)

Hon. Gough Whitlam AC QC (age 65 in 1981)

Michael Anderson

Ossie Cruse AM MBE (age 48 in 1981)

Donated by

Juno Gemes (22 portraits)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency