While many people were celebrating Australia Day today, a small group of people took to the streets of Moree to commemorate the 180th anniversary of the Waterloo Creek massacre which occurred on January 26, 1838.
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About 30 Indigenous and non-indigenous people gathered at Moree Court House where they began a peaceful march to Jellicoe Park, via Balo Street.
Although a much smaller contingent than last year’s march, their message was just as powerful.
“It shows the Moree Gamilaraay people will stand up and we will say something,” event spokesperson Paul Spearim Jnr said.
“We’ve got different people here, one guy has travelled from Inverell and another from Goondiwindi.
“That’s what it’s all about.
“What we’re trying to achieve is understanding; it’s all about coming together.
“The only way to open up the dialogue is to create a platform where we can hear each other.
“The day just empowers us to have that voice.
“The dialogue has to be there. Moree as a community and it’s leaders, black and white, want this dialogue.”
At Jellicoe Park, everyone gathered around in a circle for a Welcome to Country and cleansing ceremony while people shared their stories and reasons for participating.
“Today is a very special day for us,” Elder Jacqueline Cain said.
“It runs into the slaughter of the people at Slaughterhouse Creek, Myall Creek.
“That was my mother’s people so that would have been my great, great, great, great uncles who got slaughtered, so it’s a mourning day for me today.
“I’d like to welcome you all here today and thank everyone for coming, especially those that have travelled.”
Polly Cutmore said the date of Australia Day needs to be changed.
“I was born in the black hospital, I went to the black school, I’m 56 years old so it didn’t happen that long ago,” she said.
“We were washed down with DTT, we had to swim in our own pool.
“The date needs to change.
“We were massacred at Waterloo Creek; enough’s enough. Change the date.”
Blossom Pitt said while it was a difficult day, there was a positive to come out of it.
“It is a really sad day but there is a positive to come out of it; it’s really good to see a variety of people here supporting it,” she said.
The event was this year supported by Moree Plains Shire Council and director of planning and community development Angus Witherby was in attendance.
He passed on greetings from University of Newcastle professor Lyndall Ryan, who is putting together an interactive map of all massacres that occurred throughout the country during settlement.
“She sends her apologies for not being here today and she sends her help,” Mr Witherby said.
“She would like to help in any way she can.”
This is the third year of the Gamilaraay Invasion Day Gathering in Moree, and Mr Spearim said the numbers might be small, but the power and passion is there.
“You can feel everyone’s power and energy there, we all come together for the same reasons,” he said.
“We all believe in not only changing the date but also, in the first instance we started here, it was to reclaim the date, turn it into something that we own.
“We’ve always got to remember our old people. Without them there, our laws and our customs that remain wouldn’t be here.
“That’s one of the things today brings up, we get to have a conversation about this stuff, we get to talk about, not just about the date but all the other injustices that happen to Aboriginal people – not just yesterday but today, the things that are still happening every day.
“It mightn’t affect us directly but it affects us Aboriginally because society looks at us the same.
“I’m just proud of everyone coming together here today.”
