Bob Maza

Robert Lewis Maza (25 November 1939 – 14 May 2000) credited as Bob Maza was an Australian actor and playwright.
Activism.
In the 1960s, he was inspired by "Malcolm X Speaks", and became politically active as a member of the Aborigines Advancement League, of which he was subsequently made president. In 1970, he addressed the United Nations General Assembly on the subject of "the third-world status of Indigenous Australians". In 1972, he took part in the Aboriginal Tent Embassy protest.
Literary career.
Maza's plays include "Mereki" and "The Keepers".
He helped found theatre companies including Nindethana and the National Black Theatre.
Acting career.
Maza has appeared in television series including "Bellbird", "Harry's War", "Wildside", "A Difficult Woman", "A Country Practice", "Women of the Sun" and "Heartland". He has also acted in films, including "When the Stars Came Dreaming" (1998), "Lilian's Story" (1996), "The Back of Beyond" (1995), "The Nostradamus Kid" (1993), "Reckless Kelly" (1993), "Ground Zero" (1987), "The Fringe Dwellers" (1986), "BabaKiueria" (1986), "White Man's Legend" (1984), and "27A" (1974).
Personal life.
Maza was born to a Murray Islander (Torres Strait Islander) father and to a Yidinjdji (Australian Aboriginal) mother.
He married Vera Blankman, an immigrant from the Netherlands, and they had two sons, C'Zarke and Mataika and two daughters, Lisa and Rachael, also an actress. They felt the impact of racism for those times, but their relationship endured.
Father and daughter, Bob and Rachael both had roles in the short-lived Australian drama series "Heartland".
Recognition.
In 1993, he was awarded the Order of Australia for services to the arts and to Indigenous people.
Australia Council for the Arts.
The Australia Council for the Arts arts funding and advisory body for the Government of Australia. Since 1993, it has awarded a Red Ochre Award. It it presented to an outstanding Indigenous Australian (Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander) artist for lifetime achievement.
Today, the Bob Maza Fellowship, awarded by the Australian government, is destined to help further the career of established Indigenous actors.