I’m going to be frank and honest with you all. It is difficult for me to speak to you all about the history of Indigenous servicemen in this country.
But at the same time, it is poetic, and appropriate, that I am doing so on ANZAC Day.
Because the one thing about the ANZAC legacy, and this country’s continued commemoration of ANZAC, is that it proves that as a nation, we can be mature enough to acknowledge the painful, dark, negative things in our past as well as the good. We can hold both dark and light simultaneously.
And that, for me, is the history of our mob’s service, particularly in the First World War but in all theatres of war.
Young Indigenous men have signed up for and fought for Australia in every single war this country has fought in. This includes when we were not even recognised as Australian citizens. In fact many of our Indigenous young men were rejected from joining the armed services but this didn’t deter them, many slipped through the net by claiming that they were of Māori, Pacific Islander, Indian, Jewish or Portuguese descent. They must have been funny looking lads I reckon.
Despite these difficulties, around 1000 managed to join the AIF out of an eligible male Indigenous population of 15,000. About one-third were killed in action or died of wounds or disease. I urge you all to pause and consider what great generosity of spirit this shows.
And I would like to acknowledge that Indigenous servicemen were, by all accounts, treated as equals within the armed forces.
However, on their return this sadly did not continue. Having served this country, they returned to not even being considered citizens, let alone returned servicemen.
Thankfully we have come a long way since those days; however, this is the additional layer of commemoration that I, and other Aboriginal people, hold on ANZAC Day. Theirs is a story of commitment to be remembered and I am thankful for the opportunity to share it with you today.
