F103-a FLAUS 22 secs
(Music begins) At this place, called Eureka, 150 years today, to the day, to the hour, a small band of about 100 diggers stood up for what they believe in, and some died for it. They were hard working men and women, engaged in honest enterprise… (Start speaking over music fade)
In a ceremony this morning (fri) that lasted 30 minutes, the time it took to put down the original rebellion, actor (mr) JOHN FLAUS told the story of AUSTRALIA’s only organised civil uprising.
The EUREKA Stockade is widely regarded as the birthplace of social justice in AUSTRALIA, a place that formed AUSTRALIA’s ‘digger’ identity.
About 2,000 people gathered for the ceremony on the original site in BALLARAT, in VICTORIA, to remember the 30 gold diggers and six soldiers who died (Music fades up) on the stockade.
F103-b FLAUS 20 secs
Some of them were born here, others came from many countries – from Europe, and from America. It was Australia’s first experience of multiculturalism, and they were united. They were united in their call for basic rights and representation…(Start speaking over music fade)
It was 1854, and the migrant miners had had enough of what they regarded as an unfair and corrupt gold licensing and taxation system which benefitted only the already rich and powerful.
Through town and workers’ meetings, the diverse group of migrants came together and voiced their dismay at not having any safeguards to protect what little they had.
Many had left homelands which were in political upheaval to start a new life, and were committed to a sense of fair play.
Under the Southern Cross the miners gathered to discuss what they could do about the situation, gathering in huge public meetings in BALLARAT to demand reform.
And this is the same EUREKA flag that is flying in Parliament House in CANBERRA for the first time today (fri) to mark the anniversary of AUSTRALIA’s first (Music fades up) democratic movement.
F103-d FLAUS 33 secs
And here in their flimsy stockade they took arms and raised their flag, the white on blue, the Southern Cross. And against them moved the forces of Queen Victoria. Three hundred soldiers and police. Well trained and well armed. And their mission on that fateful morning was, and I quote, to put down the democratic movement with one blow. (Music fades out)
