Aboriginal Australians commemorate Anzac Day Photo: Carlotta McIntosh
In Sydney today Indigenous prisoners of war were honoured in the annual indigenous Anzac March from Redfern Park to the Block.
More than 400 people turned up to witness what has now become a perennial ceremony.
The day began with the traditional smoking ceremony ritual and ended with free pies and hot cups of tea at the Block’s Community Centre in Redfern.
NSW Governor Marie Bashir, General Peter Cosgrove and Indigenous Vietnam veteran Corporal Joe Minniecon Photo: Carlotta McIntosh
Prominent among the non-indigenous VIPs were New South Wales Governor Marie Bashir, former chief of the Defence Force General Peter Cosgrove, Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore. The Lord Mayor announced a $5 million grant to build a monument to Indigenous servicemen and women in Hyde Park.
Also present was Indigenous veteran Corporal Joe Minniecon who served in Borneo, Malaysia and Vietnam.
Indigenous soldiers served in several overseas conflicts from WWI, WWII, Korea, Malayia, Borneo and Vietnam, but their constributions have not been publicly recognised in the broader community until now.
In fact, it was only in 1967, following a nationwide referendum that they were officially recognised as citizens in their own country.
