Kaayi (Hello – Awabakal)

Yaama Ngindaay (Hello everyone - Gamilaraay)

Nungamanladi (Hello - Bardi)

Acknowledging our Indigenous Service Men and Women on ANZAC Day

ANZAC Day is during the school holidays this year. At this time it is very important to understand and acknowledge the contribution made by our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who served in conflicts since the Boer War, along with our non-Indigenous service personnel.

As Australians, we take immense pride in honoring our servicemen and women who so bravely served and continue to serve our country.

Background Information about our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Servicemen and Women

• Up to 16 000 Australians served in the Boer War (1899-1902) including 50 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• 416 809 Australians enlisted in World War l (1914-1918) including 1000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Nearly one million Australians served in World War ll (1939-1945). Of these, at least 3850 were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• In both World Wars, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people had the highest participation rates in the military as a proportion of their population in Australia
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have participated in all military conflicts since the World Wars, including in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan and in peacekeeping operations including in Somalia and East Timor
• In Australia, Indigenous people make up 7 percent (2021) of the Australian Defence Force, also aligning with the national population demographics. (Australian Institute of International Affairs)

• Script courtesy of Australian War memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/second-world-war, and ‘Deadly Story’ https://www.deadlystory.com/page/culture/articles/anzac-day-2018

Promises of Change Not Kept

After returning from war, having fought for their country and experienced equal treatment during their service, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people found the same, and in some cases, worse discrimination and injustice as when they’d left. Not only that, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service people were not respected as veterans and did not have their contributions recognised.

One example of this happened after the Boer War, when Aboriginal men who had participated are believed to have been denied entry back home due to the immigration restrictions of the White Australia Policy.

After the World Wars, Aboriginal veterans received little public recognition or support. They were denied access to schemes that provided returning soldiers with land and job opportunities. For example, the Soldier Settlement Scheme aimed to give land and work to returning soldiers. This involved splitting up large rural estates into smaller farming blocks and leasing them to returned service-people. However Aboriginal soldiers were denied access to this scheme. In some cases Aboriginal land was divided under this scheme and then was granted to non-Aboriginal soldiers. Communities are still fighting to have this redressed.

Script courtesy of ‘Deadly Story’ https://www.deadlystory.com/page/culture/articles/anzac-day-2018

A Family’s Personal Recognition 

Alfred Drew, one of my cousins 2x removed, served in World War I 

• Alfred Drew was a Gomeroi man who served in World War I. Alfred was born in 1896 in Goondiwindi. One of 9 children, his parents were Alfred Drew and Agnes Taylor 

• Just 19, Alfred volunteered to serve for his country in November 1916 at Guyra near Armidale 

• As he was under 21 years of age his mother Agnes gave permission for Alfred to apply for active service abroad 

• He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in 1919

Script and image: Phil Taylor 

The staff, students and families of St Kevin’s Primary School honour the service and sacrifice of our original ANZACs, and the generations of Australian service men and women who have defended our values and freedoms, in wars, conflicts and peace operations.

Nginowa (Goodbye, see you later – in Awabakal)

Yaluu (Later – in Gamilaraay)

Phil Taylor

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Teacher