Organisers of the
Coloured Diggers’ March say Indigenous people have served in all of Australia’s
main wars from the Boer War onwards.
One of the organisers,
Pastor Ray Minniecon, says it is
important the public remember contributions made by Indigenous soldiers.
“We just want to
make sure that people know that our people fought in every World War, from the
Boer War right through to the Peace Corps,” he said.
“We want to make
sure that they are recognised appropriately and that our community wants to
honour them in our own way.”
Harry Allie served with
the Australian Air Force for more than 23 years.
He says the military
helped break down racial barriers.
“When you served
you were mates no matter what colour, race or religion,” he said.
“You were there to
get a job done and you had to depend on the mate that was alongside you.”
Mr Allie says it is
important to remember the soldiers who had to leave their communities.
“When we were
serving in the services we had families and we were away from the community,
and it meant so much to us and our families because that’s the identity of who
we are,” he said.
This is the second year
the Coloured Diggers’ March has taken place to remember the contribution of
Indigenous soldiers.
The march started at The
Block and is ending in a memorial service at St Saviours Church in Redfern.
Photo (ABC: Michael Janda): Indigenous veterans at the start
of the Coloured Diggers March.
Audio: ‘Coloured
Digger’ talks to the ABC’s Michael Janda (ABC News)
Source:
ABC www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/25/2227669.htm