By
AB Simone Spano
 |
|
The
NAIDOC service at Campbell in Canberra.
|
|
Photo
by PTE Shannon Joyce
|
AUSTRALIA’S
indigenous Service men and women were honoured at a memorial service
in Canberra this month. More than 80 people attended the service
at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Memorial at Campbell
as part of a the National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee
(NAIDOC) Week 2004 activities.
Chaplain Air Commodore Royce Thompson conducted the ceremony and
noted the increase in the number of people attending the service
this year. Head of Defence Personnel Executive Rear Admiral Brian
Adams, who hosted the event, said Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people had made a “significant” contribution to the
defence of Australia.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have fought alongside
non-indigenous Australians in all conflicts and campaigns from
the Boer War to present day.
The indigenous community was not given the right to Australian
citizenship until 1967, nor the recognition and entitlements of
a service member.
Because indigenous men and women have served in the ADF prior
to this, historical records of the precise number who have given
military service to Australia remain sketchy.
Figures suggest 2000- 3000 but there are probably more not recorded.
