Moving ceremony a reminder of Aboriginal service

Victor Bartley OAM, BACHS Deputy CEO Justine Williams, Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington, Priscilla Grimes and Maxine Mackay beside the Bourke Aboriginal Servicemen’s Memorial. Photo: Beverley Callow

Story by Tricia Duffield

One of the most important ceremonies during NAIDOC week is the Remembrance service for indigenous servicemen and women, held in the grounds of the Bourke Aboriginal Corporation Health Service.

The names of those who served are etched into a plaque, attached to a large rock standing proudly outside the BACHS building.

Bourke RSL Vice President Kelly Lienesch served in the Australian Defence Force and took part in a tour of East Timor in a peacekeeping capacity. She said the process of establishing the memorial service and getting the names of Bourke’s veterans for the plaque, was a long process that began with the tireless efforts of the late Peter Potter, a former Bourke RSL President.

Today, the memorial service is one of the key moments in NAIDOC week, a reminder that there were times in recent history when Aboriginal people went unrecognised for their efforts.

The process began more than two decades ago when members of the Bourke RSL sub-branch spoke to some of the directors of the then Aboriginal Medical Service about what part they could play in fostering a better understanding of reconciliation.

It was mutually agreed that one way of doing so would be holding a fitting tribute for the Aboriginal men and women from the Bourke Shire who served during wars.

However, it was difficult to ensure that all names of those who served were accurate, and permission was also needed from their families to have names on the plaque.

Kelly said it took another four years to complete the process, and on November 11, 2007, the late Peter Potter had the honour of presiding over the first Aboriginal Remembrance Day ceremony and the unveiling of the original plaque on the rock, which still stands there today. […]

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