About the Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service
Aboriginal people have served in every conflict and peace keeping mission involving Australia for more than a century. For many years the service and sacrifice of Aboriginal service men and women had not been adequately recognised and commemorated.
In 2006, the late Aunty Dot Peters AM and then-President of the Healesville Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL), Retired Flight Sergeant Sam Halim, held the first remembrance service to honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service men and women.
Today, most other states in Australia host services to honour the military service and sacrifice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women. The annual Service gives all Victorians the opportunity to come together during Reconciliation Week to pay their respects and honour the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Defence personnel, who have served or continue to serve in the Australian Defence Force.
In the spirit of Aboriginal self-determination, the Victorian Government is working alongside the Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Committee to deliver the Service.
Aunty Dot Peters' Wreath
The gum leaf wreath artwork by Nina Kelabora is inspired by the late Aunty Dot Peters AM, who laid a gum leaf wreath at the Shrine each year. The colours of the leaves are the same as those found in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags. Individual leaves, sitting side by side, proudly represent Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal soldiers who have served and continue to serve as equals in the Australian Defence Force.
The Ode in Taungurung Language
The Ode has been translated by Aunty Loraine Padgham, into Taungurung language.
Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Committee
The committee:
- provides advice to the Victorian Government on issues of Aboriginal service recognition in Victoria
- assesses applications for the Aunty Dot Peters Award.
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