For John Brink
My God calls to me in the morning dew
The power of the universe knows my name
Gave me a song to sing and sent me on my way
I raise my voice for justice, I believe. — "I Remember, I Believe", by Sweet Honey in the Rock
John Brink, anti-apartheid and social justice activist died on Christmas eve. He had just turned 77. John had been suffering from Altzeimer's disease for several years, but his mental condition began to decline drastically at the end of November.
John and his companion Margaret grew up in South Africa and were prominent amongst the minority of whites who embraced the struggle against apartheid and racism in the 1950s.
As a protest against the Sharpeville massacre on March 21, 1960, the president of the ANC, Albert Luthuli, burned his pass-book while residing at the Brinks' home. Luthuli & John were amongst the 18,000 people detained in the nationwide security crackdown.
When John was released after three months in jail without charge or trial, he and Meg migrated to Australia to raise their four kids, but also to continue the fight against apartheid. They helped establish the South Africa Defence and Aid Fund (SADAF) to raise money for political prisoners and their families in South Africa and to expose the apartheid system to the Australian public.
Under John's leadership, SADAF put out a newsletter, organised campaigns and held public meetings. As a pacifist, John demonstrated to others the efficacy of non-violent strategies of social change. He threw himself into the sports boycott of apartheid South Africa and was influential in convincing Wallabies like Jim Boyce and Anthony Abrahams to refuse to play, but to "build bridges with" an apartheid-Springbok team.
John was also involved in opposing racism in Australia working, for example, with Faith Bandler on the 1967 Aboriginal referendum. Other groups close to John's heart included Amnesty International and Community Aid Abroad. John helped generate CAA's Southern Africa grouping and its newsletter and was one of CAA's most reliable "Walkers Against Want". It wasn't just the way John could walk that extra mile for freedom, equality and justice, that was so impressive, but his list of sponsors was always so huge.
In response to his non-violent activism John received numerous death threats, and in 1984 the Brinks' home was attacked with a petrol bomb.
John was much more than an exemplary political activist. He also appreciated the pleasures of living. He had a lust for life, for making you feel welcome, for bringing out the best in each of us. He loved playing with words as a way of playing with people. Once John got started on a song or a story, it was hard to stop him.
As a pacifist, Catholic, anarchist and communist John believed in people's innate goodness, and inspired so many of us to keep our eyes on the prize, to fight for the things that make life worth living.
By Peter McGregor