John Pat: remembrance

28 September 1983 · Remembrance

Content note: This page discusses death, violence or the ongoing impacts of injustice and may be distressing. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that it may name people who have died. Please choose whether and when to continue.

John Pat died on 28 September 1983, aged sixteen, in custody at Roebourne in Western Australia. This date is a remembrance of his life and a point for learning about the continuing campaign against Aboriginal deaths in custody.

Remembering a young life

The Australian Dictionary of Biography records John’s life and death. Western Australian parliamentary proceedings marking thirty years also identify the date and his age. His name should not be reduced to a statistic or used simply as a shorthand for an institution’s history.

Family, justice and public responsibility

John’s death became an important part of the wider history of campaigning about deaths in custody. Learning about it should recognise the sustained work of families and communities as well as the later inquiries and official responses.

The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody has a separate entry in this calendar. A report anniversary and the remembrance of an individual are different occasions. This entry centres John and the people affected rather than treating one death as an interchangeable example.

Use age-appropriate, non-graphic material and explain the content before a discussion. Do not ask Aboriginal students or colleagues to disclose personal experiences or defend the need for concern. Participation should be a choice, and the focus should remain on dignity, accountability and prevention.

Remembering with care

Read a researched account of John’s life alongside an official commemoration. What is learned about the person, and what responsibilities are identified for institutions?

Approach this history with care for descendants, families and communities. Use the linked sources to understand the particular place and people, and follow local guidance about appropriate remembrance. Participation in discussion should be a choice; nobody should be asked to share personal or family experiences.

Sources and further reading

• John Peter Pat — Australian Dictionary of Biography
• John Pat: parliamentary proceedings, September 2013 — Parliament of Western Australia

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