Deniliquin Aboriginal leader lowers flag to half-mast to recognise day of mourning

A prominent Deniliquin Aboriginal leader was allowed to raise the Aboriginal flag and lower it to half-mast for the first time before her town’s Australia Day celebrations began this year.

“Being able to raise the flag and then lower to half-mast symbolises that for many Aboriginal people across the country, 26 January is a day of mourning,” the chair of the Deniliquin Local Aboriginal Land Council, Laura Hand-Ross, said.

Laura Hand-Ross lowers the Aboriginal flag to half-mast. Photograph: Fleur Connick/The Guardian

“We are in mourning.”

As a proud Wamba Wamba and Mutthi Mutthi woman, Hand-Ross said she has always called 26 January Invasion Day.

“I would hazard a guess that in five years’ time, I probably will start calling it Survival Day,” she said. “But for me, it symbolises significant changes for all of our people across Australia and particularly in New South Wales, of the absolute annihilation of almost all of our people.”

Hundreds of people from Deniliquin in NSW gathered for the Riverina town’s Australia Day celebrations and ceremonies. Some were wearing Australia Day shirts and hats, others were carrying small national flags.

At the back of the crowd, members of the local Aboriginal community stood, before they took part in a “peaceful, sit down protest”, followed by song and dance.

It was not the first time Hand-Ross was invited to do the welcome to country speech, and this year she wanted to approach it differently.

After welcoming 12 new citizens to the home of the Wamba Wamba Perrepa people, Hand-Ross invited the community and their children to join them to celebrate the survival of her people.

“The last two years I have spoken on Invasion Day, I have offered suggestions to you, as to how you may learn more about the local Aboriginal history, I am not doing that today,” she said.

“Instead, at the conclusion of the agenda for today – you are welcome to join my people. In the spirit of learning, we invite you and your children to join us as our children dance and sing to celebrate our survival.”

Crowds at the Edward River council’s Australia Day celebrations and ceremonies in Deniliquin. Photograph: Fleur Connick/The Guardian

Jenny Fellows and her husband, Paul, who is the Edward River council deputy mayor, were at the local Australia Day awards ceremony.

“I observed the traditional owners welcoming all cultures to their lands and how special it is to be a part of our local community and see the contributions of people from all over the world to make it how it is today,” said Fellows, who was awarded citizen of the year in 2021.

When the official ceremony began, Hand-Ross made her way back to her brother, Brett Ross, and other members of the Aboriginal community. They sat together on picnic rugs in protest.

Members of the Deniliquin Aboriginal community take part in a peaceful protest during the ceremony. Photograph: Fleur Connick/The Guardian

“We want to use it as an educational tool as well for the wider community,” Hand-Ross said.

“In the late 1800’s, there were over 3,000 of our people living in and around the Werai forest. We know that a massacre of our people took place at the Tummudgeri Creek. A little over 30 people survived that massacre. 30 people. We are the descendants of those survivors.”

A “call to dance” echoed through the crowd as the ceremony concluded.

Brett Ross teaching and rehearsing the dance performance with the children and their mothers. Photograph: Fleur Connick/The Guardian

Hand-Ross said it was important for her people to be visible today, particularly as Australians will soon be voting in a referendum on the voice to parliament.

“I’m hoping it’ll just open some opportunities for people to be able to ask questions, have discussions, and ask, ‘Why do you feel this way about today?’” she said.