By Chris Martin
SYDNEY — More than 100 Aborigines and their white supporters protested outside state parliament on November 14 as Premier Bob Carr proclaimed his government's commitment to the reconciliation process. They called the statement a meaningless sham while Aboriginal heritage was still being disregarded.
The protesters condemned the government's failure to save the historic "Day of Mourning" site, scene of the first national conference of Aborigines in 1938. A range of speakers called on the government to reverse its decision to allow this site of great cultural and heritage significance to be destroyed.
In her address, Jenny Munro of the National Aboriginal History and Heritage Council (NAHHC) recalled the heroism of the "Day of Mourning" protesters and stressed that recognising and honouring leaders such as these must be a cornerstone of any genuine reconciliation process. Munro echoed the words of William Cooper, who at 82 had told the conference, "We've just begun to fight".
Union and heritage activist Jack Mundey was one of several speakers to call on unions to ban all work on the site. "Unions have not only the right but also the responsibility to support the Aboriginal cause, and here is a perfect opportunity", he said.
Other speakers included Aboriginal union leader Kevin Tory, state politicians Clover Moore, Ian Cohen, Liz Kirby and Richard Jones, Shirley Fitzgerald of the History Council of NSW and Vivi Koutsounodis representing the Greek community.
The NAHHC described the "Day of Mourning" site as the "ultimate site in an Australian freedom trail. Possibly no other site better signifies the creativity and organisational ingenuity of modern Aboriginal activists."
Messages of support were read to the rally from the Kumarangk Coalition of South Australia; Daryl Melham, MP and shadow minister for Aboriginal affairs; Sister Veronica Brady, University of Western Australia; George Browning, bishop of Canberra and Goulburn; the Social Responsibilities Commission of the Anglican province of Western Australia; Barbara Nicholson, University of NSW; Carrie Jacobi, History Department, University of Newcastle; and Harvey Broadbent, Social Unit, ABC.
A message from Rhoda Roberts, Festival of the Dreaming, expressed the feelings of many supporters around the country, saying the site must be preserved "because historically it played such an important role in who we are now".
National concern for the issue was also evident as radio stations in Queensland and South Australia broadcast live coverage of the rally, while Aboriginal stations in Western Australia and the Northern Territory carried phone interviews. Protesters promised more actions, determined to force the government to save the site.
The NAHHC has declared that if the "Day of Mourning" site is demolished, it will call for the demolition of the building's facade as well. The state government recently announced that it would preserve the facade as a "compromise", but the NAHHC point out the facade was always going to be preserved because of its European architectural significance. It's now a case of "preserve all or preserve nothing", said Munro.