Perth Voice Interactive

MAYLANDS locals are pushing for a plaque to recognise the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service personnel at the local war memorial.

Around 1000 Aborigines are believed to have served in WWI and 5000 in WWII, but the figure could be far higher, as at the time the department of veterans affairs was only required to list names and not cultural backgrounds.

In 2005 indigenous Vietnam veteran John Schnaars established the Honouring Indigenous War Graves, a non-profit group.

Since its inception the group has successfully lobbied for the acknowledgement of more than 100 indigenous veterans throughout WA: “I have to try to right a small wrong from many years ago that happened to these veterans,” he says.

“I believe it was the veterans who went away to war then, who had no rights in this country to vote or anything, and that it was those men and women—the few women that went away—that changed the course of history on the way Australia felt towards Aborigines.

“In my view, they were the people who led the change of history in Australia, towards Aboriginals being able to vote and have rights. It’s for that reason, I think, that we owe them a lot…”

During WWI and the early stages of WWII the 1903 defence act excluded people who were not of European origin from enlisting, but the rules were relaxed after the Allies suffered heavy casualties.

Upon their return to Australia, instead of recognition some Aboriginal diggers endured ignorance and racism, and were ineligible for returned servicemen land grants and RSL membership.

Some returned service personnell discovered the government had removed their children while they had been defending their country.

The indigenous veterans plaque has the backing of the local Bedford-Morley RSL branch, which has around 96 members.

“Our sub-branch members all agree that the services of these people should be recognised,” wrote branch member Colin Robb.

The 82-year-old says he’s heard plans are afoot to erect a similar tribute at Elizabeth Quay.

Terry Gaunt, a member of the Maylands Historical Society, credits his wife Pam with the idea for the tribute.

“Having read many books on Australian servicemen in various areas of war Pam was always concerned about the lack of recognition of the many Aboriginal men who had served Australia with great courage during many wars,” he says.

“I was aware there was federal funding for war memorials for the Anzac anniversary in 2015, however it ran out fairly quickly.

“We approached the City of Bayswater six months ago, and although they agreed a tribute would be good, we are concerned that there is now insufficient time to have the plaque in place for the 100 year anniversary of Anzac Day 2015.”

Bayswater council will vote on whether to approve the plaque later this month.

If approved it will be installed at the war memorial, on the corner of Eighth Avenue and Guildford Road, before Reconciliation Week next year.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK