Redfern Coloured Digger ANZAC Commemoration

Program: Thursday 25th April 2013

The Redfern Commemoration is held in the early afternoon so people can participate in the main Sydney march and other local ANZAC Day events elsewhere.
• 1:35pm: Welcome to Country and Redfern Park War Memorial wreath laying
• 1:45pm: Procession to Redfern Community Centre
• 2:15pm: Commemorative service at Redfern Community Centre
• 3.00pm: Entertainment
• 4:30pm: Close

Media statement for the Redfern Commemoration:

Put Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans and currently serving personnel at the front of the line on ANZAC Day in 2014.

The theme of the 2013 Redfern Aboriginal ANZAC Day Commemoration is Honouring Prisoners of War

Special tribute is being paid this year to Uncle Percy “Gunner” Suey of Moree. Uncle Percy served in the 2/15 Field Regiment in World War Two and was a POW for 1,370 days in notorious Changi prison. He sustained serious head and other injuries using his body to protect a non-Aboriginal POW from a beating by prison guards.

Respect is also paid every year to the women and other family members – but especially to the grandmothers, mothers, aunties and sistas - who kept families and communities together while loved ones were away and after they returned.

Reflecting on comments by the RSL in 2007 Redfern Aboriginal ANZAC Day Commemoration Coordinator, Pastor Ray Minniecon, said now was the time for that organisation to make a strong symbolic act of reconciliation.

“I believe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia would welcome an offer of reconciliation from the RSL National Office to work with them to see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people marching at the front of the line on ANZAC Day in 2014” Pastor Ray Minniecon said.

In 2007, the RSL said it would prefer that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans take part in the established ANZAC Day parade. It said: "They could be part of any of the services and marches being conducted around NSW and do not need to conduct any service of their own. It's unfortunate they don't feel they will get the attention they need at those services." The RSL also expressed concern over a call by the march organisers to have a separate honour roll for indigenous war veterans placed in the Australian War Memorial.

“We reminded everybody at the time that the RSL made those unfortunate remarks that there has never been any intention to snub the RSL and main ANZAC Day marches. Pastor Ray Minniecon said

The Redfern community wanted to properly and appropriately recognise the contribution their family members had made in all overseas wars since the Boer War. “We continue to hold the Redfern Commemoration because our community still wants to do that.

“When the Redfern Commemoration began in 2006, some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were marching with pride with their non-indigenous comrades in arms in the main Sydney march and other marches. They continue to do this and some then come to Redfern for a culturally appropriate service.

“Our community in Redfern believes it is important for our people to honour Aboriginal Diggers. In 2006, lot of our people didn’t want to march on ANZAC Day or attend the main ANZAC Day parade as spectators. They didn’t feel welcome at ANZAC Day marches and they didn’t feel welcome in their local RSLs across the length and breadth of this country.

“They weren't allowed into RSLs to be with their comrades in arms on ANZAC Day and the place they were marching was usually at the back end of the march – the end of the line.”

“The Redfern Commemoration is about honouring our unsung heroes. It is about giving our people the recognition and acknowledgement that anyone who serves should receive.

The Redfern Commemoration is also a response to the entrenched institutionalised discrimination faced by returning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service personnel and their families. "While our men and women were out there fighting in wars our kids became part of the Stolen Generations. When they got back from war they were still treated like second-class citizens even though they had risked life and limb.“ said Pastor Minniecon

A Memorial tribute for the Sydney CBD

Each year in association with this event a call is made for a permanent commemorative tribute to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and servicewomen installed in an appropriate location in the Sydney CBD.

More than six years ago Babana Aboriginal Mens Group began working with non-Aboriginal sculptor in bronze Antony Symons and the Redfern community on a design for a memorial. At the time Antony was the only person known to the Redfern ANZAC Day Commemoration Steering Committee who was working in bronze. The city has embraced the memorial concept.

Other memorials

The Federal Government should also place a plaque on every existing war memorial around the nation, acknowledging the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in all overseas conflicts since the Boer War.

“Proper and appropriate recognition of our people on each war memorial in every city, town, school and town hall and church where there is an existing memorial or plaque is long overdue. The government should also re-dedicate existing war memorials when the plaque is installed.” said Pastor Ray Minniecon

A national veterans conference

The Federal Government should also bring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans together at a national conference to set a ten year policy agenda for supporting our veterans.

Our veterans can help find answers to the unique problems they, their families and their communities face. “The Australian Government should announce support for a national conference in this years Budget”, Pastor Ray Minniecon said.

Lest we forget