First Nations Military Service
Flying First Nations flags at the Southern Villages War Memorial.
Lee Borradale would like the members of the BCA to consider a proposal that the First Nations Flag is flown at all commemoration events along with the Australian Flag. Lee will read the statement below.
The BCA Committee has discussed this and prepared a draft resolution for debate. "THAT the Bundanoon Community Association supports the flying of the First Nations Flag on ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day but recognises the decision for flag flying rests with the body responsible for these commemorative events."
The statement for information:-
"They were shot together; they died together; they buried each other together. There was no discrimination. The only discrimination they felt was when they came back home."
When I first approached the President of the Bundanoon RSL Sub-Branch, his instant reply was, "We are not flying that Flag; they are racists."
Before you jump to agreement or disagreement, think more deeply. Every culture I have lived in has its racists. As an example, the Vietnamese are called slopes and slanty eyes. They call us Uc thòi lòi which is a bottom-dwelling slimy mudskipper fish with big round eyes. Some of my best friends are Vietnamese as an outcome of a shared journey and mutual generosity.
Some Australians have called First Nations people Bongs. Coons, Abos, gins, lubra's. I have had a First Nations person angrily attack me as "White Middle Class and privileged."……… and I am! Yet, in this very attack, there is an element of racism signaling that I belong to a race that has cause great harm and remain so. I don’t see myself that way.
Being a soldier entails defending Australians, all Australians. Being an ex-serviceman entails honouring veterans all veterans. Racist name-calling is never helpful and reflects on the name-caller more than any other. I have witnessed people put this behind them, giving evidence of a positive outlook underpinned by understanding. The Vietnamese word for a teacher means giver of knowledge, while the word for principal is master of understanding. (Hiệu trưởng). I have met people who are knowledgeable yet, to some degree, lack understanding.
One of the challenges entails not condemning the failures of a minority imposed on all. To do that is racism. I go even further by often seeing the failures as symptoms of real causes in need of understanding and attention.
The deeper issue here is, do we allow racism to provoke a reactive response? I think not. The following information I hope will assist our decision making? Can our collective provide respective wisdom?
"Honouring First Nations Servicemen and women and clarity of our roles.
What is the role of the Bundanoon RSL Sub Branch role as custodian of the Southern Villages Memorial?
The RSL is the custodian for the communities of the Southern Villages. Certainly, the memorial is a sacred place to honour the service of those who have at the behest of the government of the Commonwealth of Australia been to war, too many not returning. Originally memorials were places to grieve the loss of family members of those buried overseas. (It wasn't until the Vietnam War that bodies were returned to Australia)
The choice of the site of our memorial was made by the Wingecarribee Shire Council after much debate. Like the Soldiers Memorial Hall, the ownership/title belongs to the shire. The role of custodian is an opportunity to elicit an opportunity for reverence and goodwill of our citizens. To achieve this, the RSL facilitates services of remembrance and related educational visits to schools. Bundanoon acknowledges the efforts made by other community members to create and care for the memorial.(e.g. The Garden Club). In 2008 The RSL President, Trevor Fenton and his wife led the enormous project to establish the memorial. The research to establish the names of the plaques and the fundraising are just two aspects. On ANZAC Day and REMEMBRANCE DAY, various individuals and associations place wreaths of commemoration.
When we say "Lest We Forget", it also falls to us to be contributors to a developing nation respecting and encouraging people to commit to a positive future building on the sacrifices of those that had come before who fought for a better, freer and a just inclusive society
Australia will always be a work in progress.
In recent history, the memorial was being used as a backdrop for selling plants at the markets. Lee Borradale, President of the RSL at the time addressed a Shire Council meeting, and the development application was adjusted to end the practice. The unanimous vote of all councillors was heartening.
In past years on AUSTRALIA DAY, ANZAC DAY. REMEMBRANCE DAY and NAIDOC WEEK the First Nations Flag has been included. To include the Australian First Nations Flag these days is now common practice across Australia. In Western Australia, it is mandatory. In NSW, the state RSL recommends the practice. Why the difference? One of the problems is many memorials have less than three flag poles. The current view of the local RSL leadership is that on ANZAC DAY, the three flag poles carry the Australian National Flag (Precedence given to it), The New Zealand Flag and the RSL FLAG (rather than the FIRST NATIONS Flag). It is worth noting that when the RSL Ode is read servicemen cover their medals and humbly defer to the medals/service of others, leaving them proudly shown. That sentiment should guide the flags practice now. National Flags should take precedence. The First Nations Flag is a gazetted national flag. The RSL Flag is respected but not a national flag. When possible, the National Flags should take precedence.
So what is your informed opinion? Should the First Nations Flag be flown on ANZAC DAY and REMEMBRANCE DAY? The current policy of the Bundanoon RSL is the Flag should not be flown (Though it has been in the past)
Some points to ponder:-
1. Indigenous people have fought in all Australian wars.
2. 1914 -1918 1,300 Indigenous soldiers, out of an estimated Indigenous population of 80,000, served in the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War. Around 250 to 300 First Nations soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice. Australia's population was just under 5 million; more than 60,000 also paid the ultimate sacrifice.
3. On returning, they were denied soldier settlements and, and although marching on ANZAC DAY, they were denied having a beer with their mates. (a beer was sometimes passed out the backdoor of the pub by mates)
4. Their children were barred from shire swimming pools, segregated at the movies etc.
5. Most Australians fought under the Union Jack in World War I.
6. Most Australians fought under either the Australian Red Ensign or the Union Jack in World War II. This was the era of the British Empire, and England was the mother country.
7. The Blue Ensign was designated for use only by the government, even though in most cases, it preferred to fly the Union Jack.
8. In Western Australia, the flying of the Flag on ANZAC DAY is mandatory. RSL NSW recommends it.
9. The First Nations Flag is usually present in most situations these days.
10. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1971 census, the first ever to count First Nations and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It followed the successful 1967 referendum to change Australia's constitution, allowing First Nations people the right to be counted as citizens in their own country. So the reality is during the Gallipoli campaign, three nations were present, Australia, New Zealand and First Nations. The latter was not being recognised as citizens of their own country at that time.
11. In total approximately 60,000 Australians—ground troops, air-force and naval personnel—served in Vietnam between 1962 and 1972. 521 died as a result of the war, and over 3,000 were wounded., First Nations people provided soldiers, although not counted as citizens.
12. The Flags Act Bill was passed in December 1953 and was given Royal Assent on 14 February 1954 by the Queen, who was visiting Australia.
a. The order of precedence of flags is:
I. b. Australian National Flag
II. c. National flags of other nations,
III. d. State and territory flags (In 1995, the First Nations and Torres Strait Islander flags were proclaimed official flags under the Flags Act.)
IV. e. Other Australian flags prescribed by the Flags Act 1953,
V. f. Ensigns and pennants such as the RSL Flag.
I don't like to think of the RSL Flag as last. It has my respect for all the good the RSL has done. There have been times, however, from which it must learn. Two of these are the treatment of First Nations soldiers returning from the first and second world wars and the treatment of veterans from Vietnam. Any reluctance to learn from these issues ought to be a matter of shame.
The Result of the motion put to the Bundanoon Community Association was:-
"It was a very successful night with all but one supporting the motion. Even that one was in favour of a motion supporting the First Australian Flags but asking for ANZAC DAY and REMEMBRANCE DAY to be voted on separately. There was no seconder.
The motion:- "THAT the Bundanoon Community Association supports the flying of the First Nations Flag on ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day but recognizes the decision for flag flying rests with the body responsible for these commemorative events." Passed with no one opposed to the flying of the First Nations Flags.
In time the RSL will reconsider after they reflect on the huge community support which also had overwhelming support from the Facebook sites of Friends of the Wingecarribee, Highlands Opinion and others." (About 170 comments with 7 people with a need for clarification, three of whom remained against. The discussion was impressive, thought-provoking whilst displaying mutual respect in word and tone. I was delightfully surprised.
Note: The National RSL in collaboration with State and Territory RSL’s are about to issue a new policy on this issue and Acknowledgement to Country.
