Two events – one fun, the other sombre

Two events in this Queen's birthday long weekend may be of interest.

First, anyone in the Central Coast or Hunter regions who'd like to see the film Shadows of the Past, which Grumpy Old Journo praised last month, could catch it at the Nelson Bay Cinema Complex, Stockton St, Nelson Bay, from today till June 11. It's on at 12.15pm daily.

Port Stephens is hosting the 4th Blue Water Country Music Festival from tomorrow until Monday – you could see the movie and catch some good country music.


Second, and more sombre, the annual memorial service to mark the Myall Creek massacre takes place at the murder site west of Inverell on Saturday. You'll find details below.

Because you're reading Grumpy Old Journo, it's likely you're an intelligent person who won't be told what to believe – you make up your mind after considering the evidence. You may find value in two GOJ posts last year about the massacre.

I introduced them with this statement:

This is, hopefully, the final version of a post which has been revised and re-revised to ensure it is accurate with the ascertainable facts and fair in its treatment of those matters which must remain
subject to conjecture.

Reading back over them, I think they provide a useful guide to the evidence, with plenty of links to online sources. You'll find the main post here and the other here.





Here's a guide to Saturday's function at Myall Creek, taken from an email sent to reconciliation groups:

The annual memorial commemoration ceremony for those who died in the Myall Creek massacre will be held at Myall Creek, on Saturday, 6 June.This public commemoration is held at Myall Creek west of Inverell on the Bingara-Delungra Road, commencing at 10.00 a.m.

http://www.myallcreek.org/

The guest speaker this year is Mr. Kev Carmody. Mr Carmody is a well-known and respected Aboriginal singer songwriter. http://www.kevcarmody.com.au/

The NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Paul Lynch, will also attend.

The Myall Creek Memorial was erected in June 2000 by a group of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people working together in an act of reconciliation. It was awarded the Judith Wright Prize for innovative reconciliation work in 2005. In June 2008 Peter Garrett announced Myall Creek Memorial as part of the national heritage register.

The memorial commemorates the unprovoked massacre of twenty-eight Wirrayaraay women, children and old men by a group of stockmen in 1838. The story of the massacre, of those who fought to bring it to justice, and of the remarkable ongoing and growing grassroots reconciliation are told through the annual memorial ceremony.

Following the ceremony, two highlights this year will be the schools competition with 29 local schools invited to participate, and open discussion on a concept for an education/cultural centre
at Myall Creek.

10.00 Arrival and morning tea.10.30 Start of ceremony12.00 Lunch will be available after the ceremony for a small charge.12.45 Schools competition prize-giving, followed by cultural items and
hearing briefly from special invited guests.1.30 Open annual meeting, with a focus on new architectural concept plans for the educational/cultural centre.

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