> EMERGENCY PUBLIC MEETING
> STOP THE FURTHER DESECRATION OF ABORIGINAL HERITAGE
> HELP CREATE A MEMORIAL TO ABORIGINAL HEROES ON THE DAY OF MOURNING SITE
>
> For the last four years we have been fighting to save the site of the Day
> of Mourning Conference, now the Cyprus-Hellene Club building, 150-152
> Elizabeth Street, Sydney...
Amazing the way that different events can have a direct relationship to each
other. One of the principal movers behind the original "Day of Mourning"
referred to in this post was William Cooper, an ancestor of many of the
claimants in the Yorta Yorta Native Title Case (see Yorta Yorta Land Claim
hearings (Australia) in the Native-L mailing list). Both William Ferguson
and Jack Patten, prominent figures in the day of mourning campaign, also had
Yorta Yorta connections by marriage.
It is tragic that this event is occuring at a time when racial and indigenous
issues are more polarised in Australia than they have been for over two
deacdes, as a result of the refusal by the new Liberal National Party
government and the Prime Minister, John Howard, to distance themselves from
the racist position of Pauline Hanson (a former member of the Liberal party)
on indigenous issues and immigration.
It is tragic too that Australia has so few memorials, such as the Cyprus-
Hellene Club building, to those men and women who battled for even the most
basic recognition of the rights of indigenous people.
Australia had made some progress in overcoming its old "White Australia"
image in recent times. Current events suggest that the gains were illusory
and that we will soon be back where we were in the 1950's and 60's - a
bastion of white privilege and complete despair for everyone else.
> There will be a public meeting this coming Monday, 21 October 1996 to
> discuss the next steps which should be taken at legal, political and other
> levels including consideration of what action is needed to make a bid to
> purchase the building to establish an Aboriginal History Centre.
>
> We would value your presence at this meeting to give us your moral support
> and advice. If you are not able to attend this meeting personally, we
> would appreciate a message of support and any suggestions you may be able
> to provide.
>
> WHEN: 2 p.m. Monday, 21 October 1996
>
> WHERE: Metcalfe Auditorium, State Library of NSW,
> Macquarie Street, Sydney
> (New Wing - enter from Macquarie Street)
>
> For further information contact our Office Tel. 02 9267 6074.
Rod Hagen
rodhagen@newcontent.net.au
or rodhagen@netspace.net.au
Hurstbridge, Victoria, Australia