Fitting honour for indigenous diggers
When Marchelle McMath volunteered to research indigenous diggers from the Mid West, she believed she’d come up with “15 to 20” names.
Try 102.
“I couldn’t believe it. More than 100 indigenous men from our area have gone away and fought for their country, starting with the Boer War in 1899, ” Marchelle told guests at a NAIDOC Week lunch to signify serving country.
Seventeen of the 100-plus are still living.
“We produced an honour roll of our local Aboriginal warriors. They were all represented by descendants. It’s amazing, it took until 1967 for the Government to recognise Aboriginal involvement in the wars, yet they were fighting for their country 70 years earlier, ” Ms McMath added.
“There’s an exhibition which lasts until the end of the month.”
The special guest at lunch at the Bundiyarra Aboriginal Corporation was Graham Taylor, who figured in film and interviews on national TV, while National Congress Association head Rodney Little winged in from Canberra.
“We had a really good traditional feed, kangaroo stew, chicken curries, damper and a boil-up, done by the Waitangi (NZ) people.”
Earlier this week, Ms McMath received a letter from Ian Carpenter, the mayor of the City of Greater Geraldton.
“I cannot say I’ve seen so much effort put into a single event, ” he wrote.
Words worth framing.
