The Reverend Tom Slockee has welcomed news that Indigenous veterans for the first time led the national Anzac Day March in Canberra.
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The Eurobodalla Indigenous elder is a familiar face at Batemans Bay RSL Sub-branch events, including Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services.
On Tuesday, he again led the crowd in prayer at the Honour Stone, this time knowing history was being made over the mountain.
His son Rod Slockee gave the Welcome to Country and played the didgeridoo.
“I think it was fantastic to see the leaders honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the contribution they made in the war efforts,” Rev Slockee said.
In some Australian towns, Indigenous veterans were devastated to return from battle or prisoner of war camps, only to find their children could not swim in the local pool or share the main sections of cinemas.
Batemans Bay RSL Sub-branch has been ahead of the curve in including the Indigenous community as flag bearers.
“We really appreciate that they included us in the Welcome to Country and in honouring the Aboriginal people of this land, because there are a number of Aboriginal people who served around here,” Reverend Slockee said.
“It is good to see Batemans Bay RSL does honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
”Our Aboriginal community is really glad about being included.”
His wife, Muriel, spoke movingly at Remembrance Day in 2015 about the role Indigenous veterans played.
