How to photograph today's ANZAC parade without descending into jingoism or the glorification of war?
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Remembering The Appin Massacre & The Ongoing Frontier Wars
Today, as ANZAC Day approaches, around 300 people commemorated the 201st anniversary of the Appin massacre, on the site where scores of Dharawal men, women and children were massacred over the cliffs, to the south west of what is now known as Sydney.
In 1816, in his own journal, then Governor Lachlan Macquarie wrote that:
"I have this Day ordered three Separate Military Detachments to march into the Interior and remote parts of the Colony, for the purpose of Punishing the Hostile Natives, by clearing the Country of them entirely... In the event of the Natives making the smallest show of resistance – or refusing to surrender when called upon so to do – the officers Commanding the Military Parties have been authorized to fire on them to compel them to surrender; hanging up on Trees the Bodies of such Natives as may be killed on such occasions, in order to strike the greater terror into the Survivors."
Other accounts of the Appin Massacre can be found here, here and here.
It is a cruel irony that the Dharawal language was known as the language of 'peace' because all local clans and tribes spoke it, meaning it was spoken in times of consultation, collaboration and reconciliation.
Aunty Francis Bodkin (pictured standing next to the memorial plaque) has been instrumental in the revival of Dharawal - she translated the entire Macquarie dictionary into Dharawal, despite being banned from speaking it when she was a child.
* Click on image for full screen view.
The Appin Massacre - The Ongoing Frontier Wars
As Australia celebrates ANZAC Day, around 300 people commemorated the 201st anniversary of the Appin massacre, on the site where scores of Dharawal men, women and children were massacred over the cliffs to the south west of what is now known as Sydney.
Here, a 'smoking' ceremony takes place at today's events. More photos to come.
* Click on image for full screen view.
Battle For The Block - Round 2, Supporters
Images of Aunty Jenny Munro and supporters of the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy at tonight's meeting where the AHC presented plans for a massive redevelopment of student housing at The Block.
Battle For The Block - Round 2
Aunty Jenny Munro being interviewed by NITV outside the Redfern Community Centre where new plans by the Aboriginal Housing Company to further redevelop The Block came under sustained fire during a stormy meeting. Media were barred from documenting the meeting by AHC representatives.
Aunty Jenny Munro led a 15-month campaign against redevelopment by setting up the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy in 2014, which culminated in an agreement for the funding of low cost housing for Aboriginal families. She promises that any further change to this agreement by the AHC will see the continuation of the Battle for the Block - this time, Round 2.
*Click on Image for full screen view
Mardi Gras 2017 - First Nations Float and Koori Gras After Party
Sydney's 2017 Mardi Gras parade saw off the threatening rain and was headed out by the First Nations Float after a smoking ceremony by Uncle Max Dulumunmun Harrison at Hyde Park.
Here are some photos of the parade, with a focus on the First Nations float but also with a few other general shots of the festivities.
The after party at Bar Cleveland was hosted by Nana Miss Koori and featured the Dreamtime Divas (Nova Gina and Lasey Dunaman) and Black Pearl.
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13th Anniversary of the Death of TJ Hickey
T.J. Hickey, a young Aboriginal boy, would have been 30 today had he not been killed in a police chase through Redfern and Waterloo in Sydney's inner city, 13 years ago.
Today, despite torrential rain, protestors rallied from the site of T.J.'s death in Waterloo to NSW Parliament, demanding the reopening of an investigation into the circumstances leading to the boy's impaling on a fence. They maintain that police were involved in T.J.s death - a murder rather than an accident.
Furthermore, the ninth annual 'Closing The Gap' report was today released in Parliament, indicating the overwhelming and increasing failure of government to alleviate disadvantage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in this country. Indicators such as health, employment, education, housing, well-being and life expectancy are dramatically and structurally skewed against Aboriginal peoples.
The full report can be found at: http://closingthegap.pmc.gov.au/
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"Sorry Means You Don't Do It Again"
Protestors, orgainzed by GMAR (Grandmothers Against Removal), took to the streets today on the 9th anniversary of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology for the Stolen Generation - the systematic governmental removal of Aboriginal children from their families, part of the Australian project of genocide.
Speakers at today's rally pointed out that the removal of Aboriginal children has not only continued, but has seen a rapid increase - up to 400% - since the so-called apology.
The protesters chant: "Sorry means you don't do it again!"
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/GMARsydneybranch/
Fire Jam - Camperdown Park, Sydney
Experiments in light, colour and movement.
24/7 Safe Space for Homeless meets at Old Dave's Soul, Coogee
The rough sleepers and the supporters of the 24/7 Street Kitchen and Safe Space for homeless, based at Martin Place, met up at Old Dave's Soul this Monday night. Old Dave's Soul is a night spot, wine bar, live music venue and restaurant based in Coogee. For the past several weeks, this local small business has been donating their gourmet pizzas every Monday night to the 24/7 Safe Space. You can participate in this project by getting along to Old Dave's Soul every Monday - buy one pizza and have one donated to the cause.
https://www.facebook.com/Olddavessoul/?hc_ref=SEARCH
The 24/7 Street Kitchen and Safe Space is located at the top end of Martin Place and is still calling for food and other donations.
https://www.facebook.com/Sydney247StreetKitchenSafeSpace/?fref=ts
*Click on the images for full screen view.
Miller's Point Residents Still Under Threat
A series of portraits of public housing tenants who are resisting being moved from their homes at Millers Point by government and developers in Sydney.
The images were taken in 2015-16.
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Homeless 'safe space' returns to Martin Place after Council eviction
Is it possible to evict the homeless? Apparently so, though perhaps not completely.
After the second successive forcible removal from Martin Place by Sydney City Council, the 24/7 Street Kitchen & Safe Space for homeless and rough sleepers in Sydney moved their camp from outside Parliament House back to their established location in Martin Place.
The 24/7 Street Kitchen & Safe Space provides food and security for homeless people, especially for women and was set up on Christmas eve last year. It services hundreds of rough sleepers every day and relies totally on crowd funding and donations.
For more info, go to:
https://www.facebook.com/Sydney247StreetKitchenSafeSpace/?fref=ts
*click on image for full screen view
Homeless 'safe space' evicted as anti-Islam protestors take to Martin Place
Sydney's 24-hour 'safe space' for rough sleepers in Martin Place was dismantled and cleared by Sydney City Council workers and police this morning, leaving hundreds of homeless without services that had been provided since Christmas eve.
In its place, Martin Place gave way to about 200 anti-Islam protestors who paid homage to Donald Trump's presidency and his policies on immigration. Reports suggested that the homeless were cleared to make way for today's rally for "safety concerns".
As the rally dispersed, the homeless stated that they were determined to 'reclaim' their space and re-establish services to the needy, despite this morning's actions by the Council.
Organizers are calling for immediate donations of food, cooking facilities and other goods.
Go to: https://www.facebook.com/Sydney247StreetKitchenSafeSpace/?pnref=story
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Opening Smoking at Yellamundie, Carriageworks, Sydney
A ceremonial 'smoking' by Uncle Max Dulumunmun Harrison, to open the Yellamundie National First Peoples Playwriting Festival at Carriageworks, Sydney.
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Invasion Day, 2017 - Rally
Up to 10,000 Aboriginal activists and supporters marched in Sydney today, on Gadigal land, site of the arrival of British colonialists 229 years ago.
Currently, the 26th of January not only marks the day of invasion and the start of genocide for Aboriginal peoples, but is also perversely celebrated by the wider community as the country's national day, called 'Australia Day'.
The rally began at the Block in Redfern, marched to Central and then to Victoria Park to join the Aboriginal festival, Yabun.
A largely peaceful rally with a higher than expected turnout, the day was marred when police stormed protesters attempting to burn an Australian flag.
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Invasion Day, 2107
Police storm protesters attempting to burn an Australian flag, on the 229th anniversary of the British invasion of Gadigal land.
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Auriel Andrew Burial Service
Legendary country and western star, actor and trailblazer for Aboriginal women in showbiz, Auriel Andrew OAM was laid to rest in Wallsend, Newcastle on Monday the 9th of January, 2017, surrounded by family and close friends.
Safe Space for Homeless People, Martin Place
A safe space for homeless women and men has been set up in Martin Place, directly across from the Reserve Bank of Australia. The space acts as a resource centre, pop-up kitchen, sleeping place, community centre, education hub and a general support centre for the many hundreds of homeless in Sydney's CBD. These people are at the forefront of budget cuts to social services by all levels of government.
The space is totally crowd funded and is calling for donations of food, bedding, clothes, money and other resources. Go to Sydney Sunday Crew's Facebook page for more information (https://www.facebook.com/SydneySundayCrew/) or drop in at the top end of Martin Place.
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'Person Of The Year, 2017'
An inversion of Time Magazine's cover of Donald Trump as 'Person of the Year, 2016'.
Here, Lanz Priestley looks directly at the camera on New Year's Day 2017, on location in Martin Place, Sydney, where he has set up a safe place for the city's hundreds of homeless, providing food, shelter, bedding and other resources to women and men who have been left destitute during the summer holidays.
Lanz says,
"At the 24-7 pop up homeless resource we deal on a daily basis with the fallout from federal state and local governments callous indifference to the needs of people as they bow and prey at the altar of their greedy corporate gods. Yesterday as well as known homeless and economically stressed Sydney residents we had 15 people through who had been told that Centrelink payments would be through on 24th or 28th and not received them. Others have been victims of other Machiavellian Centrelink / Job Network agent practices.
"From January 1st 2017 the federal government who steadfastly refuse to pursue the Google's and like foreign corporates who pay much less than their fair share of taxes, will stiffen their pursuit of marginalised people via a new tranche of policies designed to drive fear and intimidation of the most economically marginalised people in Australia. Aged pensioners and disability pensioners join unemployed claimants as victims of the escalating Turnbull Morrison attack on the Australian social contract. This characteristically cowardly attack on those least able to defend themselves needs to be viewed in parallel with their equally gutless intransigence in tackling corporate tax dodging , unconscionable bank conduct and unethical corporate behaviour not to mention cosy corporate government relationships.
"Just 4 things power this rancid government behaviour. Your silence, your acceptance your cooperation and your fear of consequences. Remember that wrong feasts on the rotting carcase of your inaction and the better world we know is possible will only come with your decisive action. Will 2017 be the year you act decisively?"
The space is located at the top end of Martin Place opposite the Reserve Bank and State Parliament. The organizers are asking for public donations - food, blankets, money and any other useful items.
Akala Plays Newtown Social Club
Akala visiting Sydney performs in Newtown.
