Struggling to keep up with change

Iwas born and raised in an “Aboriginal” town, not too far from here. Half the townspeople were Aboriginal. The district was divided into two groups but in truth my mob were really – a motley group of sun-tanned pioneers and other blow-ins from places afar like Lebanon, Italy, Greece and China.

Looking back, and I did this many decades ago, we had apartheid which was more associated with South Africa.

We lived in town and Indigenous Australians lived in missions named “Top Camp” and “Bottom Camp”, or on the river’s banks.

I was one of the fortunates who got to catch up with my Aboriginal friends every Sunday while serving as an altar boy at the mission’s Catholic mass –tragically dressed in a red and white tunic!

Saturday’s matinee at the “pictures”, now movies, saw our mission friends come along but they had to sit at the front of the theatre, far away.

Nonetheless we were still able to roll Jaffas down the aisle to them.

Aboriginal children were not permitted to use our artesian pools and adults couldn’t go to the pubs.

Despite this separation, a handful of Aboriginal people were revered by all townsfolk, white, brown, black or otherwise.

They were outstanding sportspeople, particularly in rugby league and basketball, and hard workers too.

Real change came in 1965 when Charles (Charlie) Perkins, who I knew quite well in Canberra, loaded up a bus with his University of Sydney mates and launched the “Freedom Ride” aimed at highlighting Aboriginal injustice in regional Australia.

Two years later, Australians voted resoundingly to give Aboriginal people the right to vote.

Little occurred thereafter until 20 years ago when much of the language, references and customs changed.

Tribal areas were identified as “First Nations”, following North America’s lead, and were mapped out meticulously.

They were referred to themselves as “Proud first nation (insert first nation name) man or woman”.

“Welcome to Country” made its appearance at formal occasions and is recited many times during public events and on planes and trains.

Smoking ceremonies and wearing Kangaroo skins and feathers in Parliament became the norm.

The nineties saw the launch of the Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islands flags and earlier this year the Commonwealth of Australia acquired the copyright to the Aboriginal Flag.

For an older person like me I’ve had trouble keeping up with all this change and I fervently hope it accelerates hope, harmony, confidence and pride.

There is further legislation ahead aimed at a united Australian community and I wish it a speedy passage.