Racism has been a constant part of Uncle Doug’s life. He grew up on Cherbourg Aboriginal Reserve in Queensland in the 1930s. Because of his First Nations heritage, every aspect of Doug's life on Cherbourg was controlled.

“There was a roll call,” he says “There was a flag stuck on a pole: a Union Jack. Australian flag, You had to turn and salute the flag. I never saluted one day, and got three weeks in jail for not doing it ... three weeks, straight off, locked up, bread and water.”