They have forgotten him, need him no more . . . . .

BLACK ANZACS

Alison Johnstone DEC

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians

of the country that we are meeting on today and pay my respects to Elders past and present and

I extend that respect to both Aboriginal and Non Aboriginal colleagues.

CURRICULUM OUTCOMES Personal and Family Histories

The Past in the Present

Community and Remembrance

Historical Knowledge and Understanding

BLACK ANZACS

Our stories can be intertwined with the NSW Board of Studies History K-10 Syllabus. Four focus areas for continuum of learning – Personal and Family Histories The Past in the Present Community and Remembrance

Historical Knowledge and Understanding Our stories can be linked to the curriculum and specific outcomes. Students can achieve new knowledge, understanding, skills, values and attitudes.

OUR STORIES THE RIVERINA AND AUSTRALIA

Share our local and national stories describing our armed forces, war heroes, family experiences, remembering the past, our communities and understanding for the future.

Demonstrations of work developed by Aboriginal educators and teachers from schools across the Riverina NSW.

Opportunity to explore aspects of writing a unit of work.

Useful resources including interactive online websites, website links eg. government honour rolls.

Contacts for school visits Further information eg. Australian Institute of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies.

WARS SERVED WARS ABORIGINAL MEN AND WOMEN SERVED IN FOR AUSTRALIA

YEAR WAR PLACE 1899 – 1902 Second Boer War Transvaal, South Africa

1914 – 1918 World War I (The Great War) Europe

1939 – 1945 World War II Europe

1946 – 1951 Occupation of Japan by Allied force Japan

1950 – 1953 Japan Korean War Japan, Korea

1950 – 1960 Korean War Korea

1963 – 1966 Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation Borneo

1962 – 1975 Vietnam War Vietnam

1990 – 1991 Gulf War Iraq

2001 – present Afghanistan War (Terrorism) Afghanistan

2003 – 2011 Second Gulf War Iraq

WHO WERE THE BLACK ANZACS

BLACK ANZACS is the term now used to identify Aboriginal servicemen who went to war. This terminology has come a full circle again with each generation.

Wars Aboriginal Men and Women served in for Australia

Historically , the term BLACK ANZACS was used in 1916 when a unit of Australian soldier raided a German camp.

Aboriginal Solders in World War I and World War II were referred to as the coloured diggers.

The press labelled them the BLACK ANZACS because they had blackened their faces with burnt cork for the raid.

WHO WERE THE BLACK ANZACS

HONOURING

The term BLACK ANZACS came about in the last twenty years, this recognition came after many years of lobbying the Australian Government to honour the contributions that Aboriginal people made to this country during war times.

THE COLOURED DIGGER He proved he’s still a warrior, In action not afraid, He faced the blasting red-hot fire From mortar and grenade; He didn’t mind when food was low, And we were getting thin, He didn’t growl or worry then, He’d cheer us with his grin.

He’d heard us talk Democracy – They preach it to his face – Yet knows that in our Federal House There’s no one of his race. He feels we push his kinsmen out, Where cities do not reach, And Parliament has yet to hear The abo’s maiden speech. One day he’ll leave the Army, Then join the League he shall, And he hopes we’ll give a better deal To the Aboriginal.

Dedicated to Private W est, ’ ’ Brigade, AIF

He came and joined the colours, When the War God’s anvil rang, He took up modern weapons To replace his boomerang, He waited for no call-up, He didn’t need a push, He came in from the stations And the townships of the bush. He helped when help was wanting, Just because he wasn’t deaf; He is right amongst the columns Of the fighting A.I.F. He is always there when wanted, With his Owen gun or Bren, He is in the forward area, The place where men are men.

RISING SUN EMBLEMS

BLACK ANZAC FLAG

The Rising Sun emblem intertwined with the Aboriginal flag is now the national symbol that unites all Aboriginal men and women who served in all wars that Australia has been involved in.

VICTORY WAR MEDAL Originally known simply as the ‘Victory Medal’. The World War I Victory Medal was awarded to any member of the US military and allied forces who had served in the armed forces between 1916 -1918 in locations throughout Europe.

BRITISH WAR MEDAL Instituted by King George V in 1919 to mark the end of World War I and record service given. The qualification period was later extended to cover post-war mine clearance and service in Russia during 1919 and 1920.

1914 STAR WAR MEDAL This was authorised in April 1917 to be awarded to those who served in France or Belgium on the strength of a unit. Or who served in either of those two countries between 5 August 1914 and midnight on 22 November 1914. A recipient of the 1914 Star could not also be awarded the 1914–15 Star.

INDIGENOUS ENLISTMENT

WHO FOUGHT

Over 500 Indigenous Australians fought in World War I.

Aboriginal men and women were provided with military uniform.

RIGHTS

Very basic rights as an Aboriginal person: low wages, poor living conditions, no vote and not counted in the census.

EQUAL IN WARS

Treated as equals while serving their country including wages and medals for military service (not recognised after completion of active duty).

SAME CLOTHES

On return from war Aboriginal service men and women were given back the clothes they wore on the day of their enlistment.

HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Lance Corporal Kath Walker Australian Women’s Army Signaller who became an advocate for Aboriginal rights.

ASSIMILATION POLICIES STOLEN GENERATION SOLE PROVIDER FOR HOUSEHOLD FEAR OF AUTHORITIES

WOMEN WAR EFFORT

An Australian Aboriginal woman studying her new ’ration’ book.

Proud new Aboriginal army recruits on parade.

Aboriginal servicewoman Corporal Helen Annie McDonald who served in the Australian Army from 1943 till discharged in 1946.

Group of Aboriginal women and girls knitting socks,

jumpers, and balaclavas for the war effort at the

Cummeragunja Government Mission.

WOMEN WAR EFFORT

Female Aboriginal cooks of Knuckey’s Bend Compound,

Katherine, NT, being paid in 1943.

“When you served you were mates no matter what colour, race or religion”

Uncle Harry Allie who served with the Australian Air Force for more than 23 years.

ANZAC DAY

Uncle David W illiams looking at a memorial of boomerangs, a didgeridoo and a rifle during an Aboriginal veteran commemoration in Sydney.

A returning officer salutes his fallen comrades on Anzac Day.

Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, “recognise and

be thankful for the fine and dedicated service of our Indigenous servicemen

and women, past and present”.

THE PAST AND THE PRESENT

Current serving Aboriginal soldiers are in Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program, Regional Force Surveillance Units and Australian Army Cadets.

FIRST INDIGENOUS PILOT A remarkable man was Warrant Officer Leonard Waters, a Queenslander, who was the first indigenous Australian to earn his ‘wings’ as a pilot.

‘BLACK MAGIC’ KITTY HAWK Appropriately, his Kitty Hawk was named Black Magic.

OFFICER LEONARD WATERS

78 SQUADRON MISSIONS During 1944-45, Waters served in 78 Squadron RAAF, flying Kitty Hawk fighters in Dutch New Guinea, Morotai and Borneo, bombing and ‘strafing’ Japanese positions.

LARGEST VOLUNTEERING FAMILY IN AUSTRALIAN MILITARY HISTORY The Lovett family occupy an impressive position in Australian military history as one of the largest volunteer family groups to serve on the side of the British Empire.

Overall, twenty members of the Lovett family, including two female members, have served Australia in both war and peacekeeping missions, from the Western Front to East Timor.

Four of the Lovett brothers served in both World War I and II, and all twenty members survive their service.

SERVING FAMILY TRADITION

Alfred, Leonard, Edward, Frederick and Herbert, all served overseas

in W orld War I.

PAST

Stolen Wages – Returned Soldiers war veteran pensions withheld from families

Unmarked graves of Aboriginal servicemen No recognition - unable to march with comrades Children were taken away

Back to the mission life

Making a living as a labourer

Excluded from Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) clubs

PRESENT

Soldiers honoured and past policies have changed for the betterment of Aboriginal people in the armed forces. Career opportunities Scholarships

Recognition

Equal Wages

Family Entitlements

PAST AND PRESENT CONDITIONS

“couldn't even get a beer in a pub, let alone a pension" Captain Reg Saunders

PERSONAL AND FAMILY HISTORIES

“Unable to vote but eligible to die”

Richard Wynne, State Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Victoria

PRIVATE WILLIAM WILLIAMS

PRISONER OF WAR IN FRANCE

Private William Williams fought with 45th Battalion in 1916, World War I. He was awarded three medals for his service to the country.

“Grandfather why did you fight when they didn't look after us” Dennis Williams, Grandson

“Son its my country. I had to fight if we didn't who knows who would have took over us, we still had to fight” William Williams, Grandfather

PRIVATE E.G.HARRIS

FOUR BROTHERS GO TO WAR ONLY THREE RETURN

The four Harris brothers from Griffith’s Wiradjuri country went to war. Private E.G.Harris did not return home.

HEADING You will be given useful resources including interactive online websites, website links e.g. government honour rolls, contacts for school visits ,and more information e.g. Australian Institute of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies.

PERSONAL AND FAMILY

DATE PALMS FOR LAND RESETTLEMENT SCHEME

The Aboriginal soldier known to have received a soldier settler ’s block in New South Wales was Farrier Quarter Master Sergeant George Albert Kennedy of the 6th Light Horse Regiment.

CAROWRA TANK RESETTLEMENT 1909

COMMUNITY AND REMEMBERANCE

Torres Strait Islander veteran Enemarki Zaro, aged 94

COMMUNITY REMEMBRANCE INDIGENOUS MEMORIAL “For too long the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the war efforts has not been recognised.

There is very little to show Indigenous recognition at the Australian War Museum, unless you walk up a rather lonely path” Canberra-based historian David Huggonson

HEADING You will be given useful resources including nteractive online websites, website links e.g. government honour rolls, contacts for school visits ,and more nformation e.g. Australian Institute of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies.

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AUSTRALIA’S FIRST COLOURED DIGGERS MARCH

Aboriginal people decided to draw attention to their history and organised Australia’s first Coloured Diggers March on Anzac Day 25th April 2007 in Redfern, Sydney.

Hundreds of Indigenous veterans and their descendants participated on the day.

COMMUNITY REMEMBRANCE BRINGING HOME PRIVATE FRANK ARCHIBALD

Australia's Defence Minister Stephen Smith talks to Uncle Richard Archibald after the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby. Uncle Richard was in PNG to perform the Aboriginal cultural ceremonies to bring his relative Private Frank Archibald's soul to rest.

AAP image

COMMUNITY REMEMBRANCE

FIRST INDIGENOUS MILITARY PILOT

Warrant Officer Leonard Waters is remembered on Anzac Day.

TownsvilleAboriginal Community paying respect toAboriginal servicemen.

Koori Mail 2012

NSW BOARD OF STUDIES CONNECTING TO NEW SYLLABUS

‘Students develop an awareness of the significant roles Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have played in Australian society and the wider world. This knowledge and understanding will deepen and enable students’ capacity to participate in the ongoing development of a just and equitable Australian society that genuinely reconciles with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’.

History K-10 Syllabus

Australian War memorial http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/04/25/calls-better- honour-indigenous-soldiers

Indigenous Histories http://indigenoushistories.com/2013/02/24/aboriginal-soldiers-and- gallipoli/ Australia’s first Aboriginal Fighter pilot with the Australian Air force- His story http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len_W aters http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/lastbattles/lenwaters.html http://leonardwatersaboriginalfighterpilot.blogspot.com.au/2008/10 /leonard-waters-aboriginal-fighter-pilot.html http://www.78squadron.com.au/78sq_image_library3.html .

Reconciliation Aboriginal Australia https://www.reconciliation.org.au/getfile?id=2025&file=Lets+talkRe membering+the+forgotten+Anzacs.pdf

The story of the Lovett family-5 Aboriginal brothers who served in WW1 and WW2 http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/brave-family-spurned-by- land-they- served/2007/05/27/1180205078964.html http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/aborigines/indigenous/ Indigenous Soldiers who went to war http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/collections/exhibitions/iaaw/memorials.ht ml ANZAC Day Memorials for Aboriginal Soldiers http://www.anzacwebsites.com/tradition/aboriginals.htm http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/indigenous- australians-at-war.htm Newsletter of Aboriginal contributions to WW1 and WW2 http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1449559/aboriginal- diggers-couldnt-even-get-a-beer-in-a-pub/ http://www.bwm.org.au/site/The_Soldiers.asp http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2012/11/12/3630724.htm

RELEVANT RESOURCES

4-!'·1·,; Education & NcoS·"W" "' commun1·t 1·es ABORIGINAL EDUCATION, RIVERINA

<5>Department of Education & Communities