Invasion Day Melbourne - Wow!

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I felt so proud of Australia's youth today at the Invasion Day rally in Melbourne. There were just so many of them there, determined to help re-write our history and demand justice and respect for Aboriginal people.  It was heartening to think that the younger generation's values are so much better and more grounded than many of their forebears'.

I had thought in advance that, as its title was so unequivocal, the rally might attract few people. But I was completely wrong. I am no good at estimating numbers, but people kept pouring off the trams. And the congestion you can see (below), as we turned around to march down Bourke street, will give you some idea of how packed the junction and surrounds were. 

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Of course the day was not exclusively about the young. The Elders who spoke made a wonderful contribution. And there were other older protesters as well, some of whom are fighting fiercely against the government on a number of different fronts.

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But for me the overall impression from the day was of the joy and energy exuded by these beleaguered young Australians. Even just visually the young, in their rich diversity, look so different from many of the power brokers in our country. Here are a few more photos of the crowd - could these Australians look any more different from the overall homogeneity and conservatism emanating from our Cabinet Ministers?!

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I was delighted to hear that Melbourne was by no means alone in its recognition of Invasion Day.  And I learned(belatedly) that last year over 100,000 people spent Australia Day at an array of Invasion Day events.

Today for Sydney-siders there will be firelighting, ceremonies, concerts and a march. In Brisbane there will be speeches and a march. The Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra will be hosting music and yarning circles. There is an Invasion day event in Adelaide. In Perth and Fremantle there will be rallies and concerts. Darwin is offering a free lunch at a community event. Hobart has already had a Dawn Service recognising the frontier wars and massacres, and there is also a rally.

Unknown to me until it was too late to attend, here in Melbourne too there is an annual Dawn Service. Amongst others abused and killed,  the service particularly honours the thousands of Aboriginal people whose bodies were taken for science and collecting. 
I will certainly attend next year.

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