The Frontier Wars were fought in every part of the vast Australian continent from the 1790’s to the 1920’s. How could they be overlooked in local or even in global history? The ownership and control of a continental landmass was at stake. First Nations’ warriors bled and died on, and for, their own country. Why would we want to overlook them?
Minister for Veterans Affairs, Matt Keogh, issued a press release last Friday announcing that three new members had been appointed to the Australian War Memorial Council who would take up their positions on July 1st. He declared that the new members would bring a fresh perspective to the Council and ‘ensure the Memorial continues to adapt and reach contemporary audiences.’ With leadership provided by the recently appointed Chair of the Board, Kim Beazley, it is clearly a case that it is now or never if the Memorial is to catch up with all those prominent Australians who have, for the last thirty years, demanded that due recognition be given to the frontier wars. Developments both here and overseas are adding unprecedented momentum to the cause.
The defeat of the Voice referendum and the decisive rejection of a constitutionally enshrined advisory committee has given increased emphasis to the other demands made in the Uluru Statement From The Heart and above all the need for truth telling. This has already been catered for in Victoria by the Yoorook Commission which has been collecting evidence from a wide range of witnesses. It is a process whose........