Victorians took a time to pay tribute to all First Nations servicemen and women who served for Australia.
The Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service was held again at the Shrine of Remembrance on 31 May.
This special service was evolved from a local service which was organised by then Healesville RSL president Sam Halim and the late Aunty Dot Peters in 2006.
“In 2006, the Healesville RSL Sub-Branch, I was asked by a local Aboriginal elder, the late Aunty Dot Peters, if the RSL would honour her father and other Indigenous soldiers who died in the defence of Australia but received little or no recognition. She had been trying for years through the RSL and other organisations, but had failed,” Mr Halim said.
“Myself as president, along with my committee, decided to change that and held the first ever remembrance service for the Indigenous soldiers at the Healesville RSL sub-branch. At that service, I am proud to say that I raised the Aboriginal flag for the first time at an RSL.
“Then, during Reconciliation Week, Healesville RSL Sub-Branch for the first time ever played the didgeridoo whilst playing The Ode, every day for a week. Not long after that, the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne followed our lead, and raised the Aboriginal flag for the first time ever at a service. This service is now in its 21st year, and is held at The Shrine of Remembrance on 31 May each year. It is now replicated in other states around Australia.”
Each year before her passing, Aunty Dot laid a gum leaf wreath at the service, and this tradition is now continued by her son, Dr Andrew Peters.
Dr Andrew Peters laid a gum wreath and Mr Halim laid a native wreath at the eternal flame at the Shrine of Remembrance.
