the following letter is from ms. marcia mason-hopkins and her family in their attempt to honour the death in custody of mark mason who was shot by police in collarenabrie on the 11 november, 2010.
this is not the first time that deaths in custody and social justice issues has been incorporated into the aboriginal rugby league knockout during the october long weekend as the watch committee sponsered a team during the late 9o's but to my memory this is the first by a death in custody family.
i believe that the mason family have done all that can be expected of them to show their bona fides in what and why they are hopeful of doing. their treatment of any monies raised i also believe is suitable to any donor and i ask all to give what they can afford to do so.
mark is one of many aborigines who have died at the hands of the police forces around this country and as they honour their fallen with flowery words and monuments so to we must honour our fallen by their hands. what better way than to sponser a team of young men to play in the knockout in his memory, specifically, and for all the 200+ aborigines and torres strait islanders killed by police since 1 january, 1980. the team will also play under the deaths in custody and the indigenous social justice association and we are indeed proud and honoured to be asked to help marcia and her family.
should the required amount not be reached then the mason family and myself will negotiate how that money raised should be used. i hope that such discussions become unneccessary
run a raffle, set up a gig or whatever so the proceeds can be forwarded to the bank account provided. please give whatever you can to raise the required $10 000 for uniforms and other costs but also for the information tent that they hope to run in conjunction with the knockout.
surely a worthy cause.
fkj
LETTER
My name is Marcia Mason-Hoskins and I am the sister of the late Mark Mason who was shot and killed in custody in Collarenebri on 11/11/10.
My family would like to put a team in the Annual Aboriginal Rugby League Knock-Out on the October long week-end this year, to be held in Maitland, in honour of Mark.
Not only did my brother love the game, he also played and excelled with his skills and in younger years had NRL Clubs chasing him.
We would like to fly under the banner of Deaths In Custody and the Indigenous Social Justice Association.
We would also like to have an information tent at the Knock-Out which would promote a greater community awareness of the plight of injustices on Indigenous people at large. This would include the Death in Custody of my brother Mark. We would also be seeking permission from any other families that are either going through this or any families who have gone through it. Currently there is a petition in Bowraville seeking justice for the murders of three Indigenous children.. With the permission of those three families we would be happy to seek the signatures required to present the petition to Parliament at the information tent. They have been seeking justice for 20 years now and will continue with their fight for justice.
There are many options open for an information tent and we would be happy to take anything on board concerning Deaths in Custody and the Social Justices of Indigenous people.
In order for this to occur we, the Mason Family, are looking for sponsorship/funding for an amount of $10 000 which would be for :
(a) The entire football uniform for 25 players, for which we have a design,
(b) Entry fee into the Knock-Out for the week-end which is $1800
(c) Players and Supporters (Mason Family) Shirts
(d) First Aid Kit
(e) Information Tent
(f) Entry fee into the Knock-out for all Players and Officials
(g) Blankets for players (on the bench).
(h) Accommodation (for players and Officials)
(i) Strapping, (Rubbing)
We have opened a Commonwealth Bank Account in the name of Samuel Hoskins, (my husband), the BSB is 062 568 and Account Number is 1013 6451. This is a Goal Saver Account which does not have keycard access. All monies can be accounted for by simply requesting that your name/company/organisation name be used as a reference when depositing money. On receipt of Invoices a cheque will be made out directly to the company involved.
This account had to be set up in Samuel Hoskins name because we do not an ABN number and have not had meetings or minutes taken, this is due to the fact that my family was preparing and attending meetings for the Inquest of Mark, which incidently began in Dubbo from the 4th – 8th June 2012 and will continue from 3rd -5th October 2012.
If it is possible, in any way, for you to assist with sponsorship/funding for the Mason Family to make our dream of honouring my late brother Mark and bringing greater community awareness of Deaths in Custody and Indigenous Social Injustice to become a reality it would be gratefully received and appreciated.
Should we not be successful in our endeavour to raise enough funds we would be happy to donate the monies to the Indigenous Social Justice Association so they can continue with their fight for justice or to roll the monies over towards next years Knock-out and hopefully participate then.
Yours in Unity
Mark Mason (jnr) Marcia Mason-Hoskins
Son Sister
ray jackson
president
indigenous social justice association
isja01@internode.on.net
(m) 0450 651 063
(p) 02 9318 0947
address 1303/200 pitt street waterloo 2017
we live and work on the stolen lands of the gadigal people.
sovereignty treaty social justice