Thomas Mayor

Thomas Mayor is a Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait Islander) man born on Larrakia country in Darwin. At seventeen he became a wharf labourer, by his early thirties he was a union official for the Maritime Union of Australia and in 2017, Thomas became a signatory to the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Since then, Thomas has carried the sacred canvas of the Uluru Statement from the Heart 26,000km around Australia, spending 18 months garnering support for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations voice, and a Makarrata Commission for truth-telling and agreement-making or treaties.

Thomas was generous enough to share his story with the IPS staff during NAIDOC Week. We heard about where he grew up, his experience working as a wharf labourer, his journey to the Uluru Convention, and his tireless campaigning work since then. Thomas is an extremely powerful speaker, and his passion for the work he is doing is infused in his every word.

If you wish to find out more about Thomas and The Uluru Convention, you can follow his journey around Australia in ‘Finding the Heart of the Nation’, available online or at all good bookstores. All of the author royalties for this book go towards supporting the Campaign. Find out more about the Uluru Statement and pledge your support via the Uluru Statement website.

Thomas has also released a children’s book ‘Finding our heart’ which is to help raise awareness amongst young people about the Uluru Statement.