THE annual service of commemoration of the Myall Creek massacre took place on Saturday at the Myall Creek Memorial about halfway between Bingara and Delungra.
The commemoration was attended by about 200 people and for Lyall Munro, a descendant of one of the survivors, the day is important for Australia's real history.
The massacre happened on June 10, 1838, when 12 armed stockman rode onto Henry Dangar's property at Myall Creek where they murdered 28 peaceful Aboriginal elderly men, women and children, whose relatives were working with the station manager, William Hobbs, at the time.
On July 9, 1838, Mr Hobbs wrote to the police magistrate in Invermein to report the matter:
"On my return I saw near the Hut the remains of about 30 Blacks principally women and children I recognised them as part of a Tribe that had been at the Station for some time and who had, since they first came, conducted themselves in a quiet and proper manner, on making enquiry I was informed that a party of White men had come to the Station who after securing them had taken them a short distance from my Hut and destroyed nearly the whole of them…"
Hobbs' letter does not mention Major James Winniet Nunn. He arrived from Sydney at the end of 1837, and with about 30 troopers and some volunteer stockmen conducted a murderous 53-day campaign.
On January 26, 1838 up to 300 Aborigines were killed in a surprise attack at Snodgrass Lagoon on the Waterloo Creek. White violence exploded afresh when the 'Drive' or 'Bushwack' began in May of 1838, when a large party of Aborigines were surprised and suffered heavy loss of life in a ravine at the headwaters of Slaughterhouse Creek.
The June 10 massacre stands out among all of the others because it was well documented and seven of the perpetrators were subsequently hanged for their crimes.
"This is a day when descendants of the perpetrators and descendants of the victims stand beside each other and tell the truth about the past," said Mr Munro.
"This is bigger than a service of reconciliation and it's bigger than commemorating victims killed in the world wars, it's bigger than that.
"Myall Creek is one of the few places in Australia where the 'real truth' is being told," Mr Munroe said.
The crowd attending the commemoration this year was down on previous years, but Mr Munro feels holding it on a Sunday next year will see the numbers swell again.
"Next year we will have 800 to 900 people there, I have no doubt about that at all, but we still had people from all over the country come this year," Mr Munroe said.
"And I would like to compliment the school children and teachers from Inverell, we always have a good turn-up from them come rain hail or shine, and it's good to have students learning about the true history of this country and teachers willing to teach it.
"Perhaps if the true history was written and spoken about we wouldn't have to build so many jails for so many aboriginal people who shouldn't be in them in he first place," Mr Munroe said.
The Friends Of Myall Creek Committee also have plans to build a $5-$6 million cultural centre near the site and Mr Munroe is hoping it will be a big tourist attraction.
"I think another two years will go close to seeing the cultural centre built and we're also committed to buying Myall Creek Station, it's recognized as having the highest heritage listing in Australia," Mr Munroe said.
"We wouldn't change the workings of the station, but we would build cabins for students who want to come and study the true history of Australia," he said.
© 2011 Inverell Times
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