For the second year
running a special march and service will be held to commemorate the
contribution made by indigenous diggers to our nation.
Pastor Ray Minniecon, from the Coloured Digger Project,
said acknowledging indigenous veterans was important, as recognition had not
been forthcoming in the past.
“We wanted to
acknowledge our own Redfern Aboriginal Diggers,” Mr Minniecon said.
“The whole point is
to show how we need to recognise, respect and honour the Aboriginal people who
made the ultimate sacrifice for this country, particularly when we realise that
history has not been a good one at times.
“After the war they
did not receive the same benefits of returned service men. Some didn’t get
their names on the RSL rolls of honour, some were not allowed in pubs.
“This is why it’s
really important we make a special point of honouring these diggers.”
This year will also see
the inclusion of a new bronze sculpture commemorating indigenous Anzacs.
The sculpture does not
yet have a permanent home but the Coloured Digger Project is currently seeking
a permanent site for the sculpture, possibly in Redfern.
“I think its an
inspiration for young people to realise their fathers and grandfathers fought
for this country in all the overseas conflicts from the Boer War right
through,” Mr Minniecon.
Sydney Council will
display the Sculpture at Customs House on Anzac Day before it is moved to other
council locations for further display.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said she welcomed the sculpture and
Coloured Digger service.
“This display will
also raise awareness about the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander servicemen and women and enable the community, including the
indigenous community, to make comments and suggestions on how this contribution
could be permanently recognised,” she said.
“This would include
making suggestions on what statue recognising Aboriginal and Torres
Strait service-
men and women should
look like and the way in which public art, plaques and memorials could be
used.” Last year the separate event for indigenous diggers caused an
outcry from some veterans while the national Returned Servicemen’s League
refused to endorse the separate black diggers march.
This year there has been
no criticism and the RSL has not comment
ed on the march. Mr
Minniecon said the Coloured Digger Project was currently in the process of
compiling a roll of honour like those containing the names of white veterans
and venerated around the country at memorial shrines.
“We will … unveil
for the first time a roil of honour for the diggers so we can identify who they
are and the tribal group they are from,” he said.
“We are starting in
the local Redfern area but we don’t know all the tribal groups yet, so on the
day we will be trying to identify names and tribes from as many diggers as we
can.”
The Coloured Diggers
march will start at 1pm at the Block, Redfern and will be followed by a 1.45pm
service at St Xaviers Church, Redfern.
For more information
phone 8255 7614.
Photo: Servicemen and
women march in the indigenous diggers march on Anzac Day in Redfern last year.
Source: Central 23rd April 2008