Our violent past

I enjoyed very much Elizabeth Flux’s profile “Gold standard” (October 16-22). Let’s hope Corrie Chen goes on to direct more film stories. I grew up near Young, formerly known as Lambing Flat, in southern NSW. Young was probably renamed because of the shocking Lambing Flat riots against the Chinese during goldmining days. We didn’t learn much at school, other than that locals rounded up all the Chinese and cut off their pigtails. Apparently, a Roll Up Banner incited about 200,000 men to rally and attack Chinese miners. There is a local swimming hole called “Chinamen’s Dam”. I’ve always had a curious sense of dread about that name.

– Jen Martin, Northcote, Vic