Family & Friends Welcome to March in Redfern in ANZAC Day

“The whole community is welcome to join Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and servicewomen and their families in fellowship and to support them as they march and worship in Redfern on ANZAC Day.”

In spite of participating in all world conflicts since Federation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and servicewomen returned home to their Country to find their bravery, service and sacrifice barely recognised and to face a continuation of the White Australia Policy.  Some Diggers returned home to find that while they had been away fighting for their country their children had been taken from them and placed in institutions or their wives had been denied access to their pay. Later on, Aboriginal Diggers were not permitted to march with their comrades on ANZAC Day or to join with them in after-march events and, for a variety of reasons, many did not gain access to Veteran’s benefits.

“All to often, the names of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Diggers were omitted from war memorials in cities and towns across the length and breadth of Australia. 

“All too often our people were denied the Honour, Recognition and Respect accorded to other servicemen and servicewomen.

 “But their families and communities didn’t forget. And now, two, three and more generations later, Aboriginal servicemen and servicewomen and their family members, some for the first time finally are being given an opportunity to publicly acknowledge the service, sacrifice and courage of these servicewomen and servicemen.

“This march is our way of publicly saying a big “Thank you” to these servicemen and servicewomen and also an opportunity for the wider community to do likewise.  It is about repairing bridges between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans and the wider community.

A unique Roll of Honour recording the name and Aboriginal Nation of former servicemen and servicewomen will be formally unveiled at the St Saviours Church ecumenical service.

2008 Redfern ANZAC Day program

The Redfern ANZAC Day march will leave the Assembly point at The Block, adjacent to Redfern Railway Station, at 1.00pm sharp and move to St Saviours Anglican Church, Young Street, where a culturally appropriate ecumenical memorial service will begin at 1.45pm.

1.00pm:   Assemble at The Block, Redfern

1.15pm:   March to St Saviours Anglican Church, Redfern

1.45pm:   Ecumenical Service

3.45pm:   Service Finish

Transport will be available for those unable to march but wanting to travel with the marchers.

The ecumenical Service will be followed by:

• Afternoon tea in St Saviours Church Hall from 3.45 – 4.30pm.
  
• Special ANZAC Day viewing of the Coloured Digger-2 exhibition of works by contemporary artists at the Damien Minton gallery 61-63 Great Buckingham Street, Redfern from 4.30 -6.00pm.

For More Information Contact: Ray Minniecon: 0417 929 701

Poster for March can be downloaded from Anzac 2008 - Coloured Digger Poster (15KB PDF)

Poster for the Exhibition is THE COLOURED DIGGER 2 Exhibition 23 April – 10 May 2008 Flyer (821 KB PDF)