Remembering Coranderrk
This boomerang was created at Coranderrk as a souvenir to celebrate the end of the First World War.
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Souvenir - Boomerang (AH3854), 'In remembrance of Coranderrk', c. 1918, Koorie Heritage Trust
The reuse of this media requires cultural approval
Reuse this media
Can you reuse this media without permission? No (with exceptions, see below)
Conditions of use
All rights reserved
This media item is licensed under "All rights reserved". You cannot share (i.e. copy, distribute, transmit) or rework (i.e. alter, transform, build upon) this item, or use it for commercial purposes without the permission of the copyright owner. However, an exception can be made if your intended use meets the "fair dealing" criteria. Uses that meet this criteria include research or study; criticism or review; parody or satire; reporting news; enabling a person with a disability to access material; or professional advice by a lawyer, patent attorney, or trademark attorney.
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Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
© Digital reproduction copyright of Koorie Heritage Trust (Gnokan Danna Murra Kor-ki)
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Aunty Dot Peters, a Wurundjeri Elder with connections to Coranderrk and involved in creating the first Victorian Indigenous Remembrance Service, responded to the boomerang with the following statement:
The reason I started fighting for the recognition of Indigenous servicemen is because I heard about our boys coming back from the war and not being served at hotels. If they were in a shop, non-Aboriginal people were served before them. Their children were not allowed to swim in the same pool with non-Aboriginal children. This is what prompted me to do something about it. I thought the way they were being treated was unjust. They couldn't vote, but they could fight and die for their country. I thought something needed to be done.
My Dad died as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma railway. He was on the way home from the Middle East when he was taken prisoner in Java. His body is buried over there.
I believe Victorian Indigenous Remembrance Service, ANZAC Day and Commemoration Day are days to remember our boys and girls that did come home, but are also to remember the ones that didn't come home. It doesn't bring their bodies, but it brings their spirit back and that touches the heart. I participate every year.
I approached our local RSL and asked them to become involved in reconciliation week. When the Shrine heard what was happening I got called to a meeting which resulted in remembrance service at the Shrine. The following year this went Australia wide.
Aunty Dot Peters, Wurundjeri
