Republicans pay tribute to ARM founding members Faith Bandler and Colin Lanceley

The Australian Republican Movement recently paid tribute to Faith Bandler AM and Colin Lanceley AO, two of the Movement’s 14 Foundational Members in 1991, who passed away in early 2015.

Ms Bandler, who was awarded an Honoured Life Membership of the Australian Republican Movement in 2002 for her lifetime support for an Australian Republic, was also instrumental in the success of the 1967 Referendum to remove constitutional discrimination against Aboriginal Australians.

Faith Bandler

A descendent of South Sea Islanders, brought as forced labour to work in the Queensland cane fields, Ms Bandler was instrumental in the success of the 1967 Referendum to remove constitutional discrimination against Aboriginal Australians before becoming one of 14 Foundational Members of the ARM in 1991.

In a 1993 interview for the Australian Biography project Ms Bandler explained her support for an Australian republic:

"I'm a republican because I feel that Australia is adult enough to make its own decisions without consulting someone 12 000 miles away. I'm a republican because I think we have a great need now to be an independent nation, mainly because we have a large population of people who have never known the monarchy, it's meaningless to them, absolutely meaningless. That they have to swear allegiance to something away over on the other side of the world to me, I think that it's unreal, completely unreal."

Ms Bandler was awarded an Honoured Life Membership of the ARM in 2002 for her lifetime support for an Australian Republic. ARM Chair Professor Geoff Gallop AC said

“Faith Bandler’s life and words remind us as to why Indigenous recognition in the Australian constitution is an essential first step in a republican future. On behalf of the Australian Republican Movement I extend our sympathies to her family and friends,”

The Australian Republican Movement also acknowledges the contribution that artist Colin Lanceley AO has made to the republican cause in Australia, following his recent passing. ARM Chair, Professor Gallop also paid tribute to Colin Lanceley, who

Colin Lanceley

“was a tremendous contributor to the republican cause and a great believer in the importance of a republic to concepts of Australian identity and culture. He was a passionate Australian and his vocal advocacy and support of great Australian institutions for artists such as the National Gallery of Australia's council and National Art School will be long remembered.”

An iconic Australian painter, printmaker and sculptor, Lanceley was a dedicated advocate of an Australian Republic and became one of 14 Foundational Members of the ARM in 1991.

Vale Faith and Colin. Elders of the republic.