Redfern turns out for indigenous diggers

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This was published 16 years ago

Redfern turns out for indigenous diggers

By Paul Bibby

THERE were no marching bands or Australian flags when the Coloured Diggers march set out from the Block in Redfern yesterday. Sydney's first indigenous Anzac Day parade - proudly decked in black, red and gold - set off to the accompaniment of a single didgeridoo.

The 500 marchers were led by about 15 veterans. Then a service was held at St Saviour's Church to commemorate the fallen.

There were tears in veteran Les Lang's eyes as the parade turned out of Eveleigh Street, cheered on by a small but vocal crowd.

"This is one of the proudest days of my life," Private Lang, part of Australia's home defence during the Korean War, said.

"A lot of our people went overseas and fought and died for Australia - a lot of my mates.

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"We should be more recognised than we are today."

The parade was part of a broader push for greater recognition of indigenous veterans.

About 500 Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders fought in World War I and as many as 5000 fought in World War II, Australian War Memorial records show. But those who returned faced discrimination and the denial of basic human rights.

At St Saviour's, the president of the NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans Association, Dave Williams, said the march represented a significant step forward.

"To walk down those streets of Redfern and to be at the head of a parade and for people to say thank you to me and my colleagues from the past, present and beyond is unbelievable," Mr Williams said.

"When you're in the trenches the bullets don't care about the duco. If you get hit, you're gone.

"To see our contribution acknowledged is one of the proudest moments of my life."

The service at St Saviour's was a fusion of indigenous and non-indigenous traditions. A smoking ceremony to welcome the elders was followed by a stirring rendition of Advance Australia Fair and the raising of the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.

Local elders placed stones in a large bowl of earth to acknowledge the fallen, and Pastor Ray Minniecon led an indigenous prayer for remembrance.

"May we as a nation come to fully acknowledge the contribution that the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders have made to the defence of our land," Pastor Minniecon said.

"God of the Dreamtime, God of today, help us never forget."

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