Three paper flags, the slap of my feet and a large golf umbrella


I took this photo standing on Eveleigh St. I've never walked down Eveleigh St before. In my mind it has always been a no go zone, a place I fear to tread. Buildings squat like crabs under the skyline of the city in Eveleigh St; I don't know what I was expecting when I crossed the road from Redfern Station and turned right slapping each foot on the road I thought I'd never walk down. I've heard people talk about a hum in the air, I couldn't hear anything but I felt a sort of internal pressure pressing me forwards through the pouring rain. This morning my problem was a confused and earnest one.

Intellectually I wanted to be there, right there at the Aboriginal Community Centre in Redfern, I wanted to say I was part of that, I saw that but on the walk down I kept feeling and feeling. The last thing I wanted to be was an emotional tourist. What right did I have as a non-Indigenous Australian to feel. When I got there I was close to tears until an Aboriginal man walked right up to me and gave me two flags, the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag. He grinned at me and said "Don't forget the Australian flag too" as he handed me one "after all we are Australian." It sounded like a corny scripted line but his grin was infectious and I pushed into the crowd clutching my three paper flags and a golf umbrella.

The Aboriginal Community Centre in Redern sits in stark contrast to the surrounding buildings. It is large, modern and airy like its been dropped in from outer space. I stood towards the back in a sea of umbrellas feeling awkward and wishing I could see people's faces. There was a short introduction to the day and a Welcome to Country then waiting for Kevin Rudd to appear on the big screen. The City of Sydney sent men in uniforms handing out raincoats. The Socialist Alliance sent annoying fuckers with magazines. Suddenly it happened and I stopped thinking and started feeling all over again.

I've been in crowds of drunken bastards shouting and bringing in the new year, I've stood on the edge of the harbour while the City of Sydney exploded its money in the night sky and all around people cheer and stare astonished but I've never stood in a crowd of people busting wide open with everything you could ever feel all at once. Something lifted, pushed up by the communal emptying of lungs with spontaneous joyful noise.

I was part of something this morning, my feet, my umbrella, my paper flags. I feel like a citizen of a new nation.

=================
I left after Kevin Rudd's speech to walk to the office. I was not present to feel the effect of Brendan Nelson and his ill-chosen mean spirited hurtful words.

Comments

Shelley said…
That brought a tear to the eye. Beautifully said.
Anonymous said…
You are so lucky to have been there, watching it all at home brought a tear to the eye, I can't imagine how amazing Redfern would have felt.
But it feels like something has changed, the way we perceive ourselves has shifted.
I just hope this day has an affect on every Australian.
Karen said…
Yes. What they said.
Martin Kingsley said…
Also, as if the Socialist Alliance does anything besides send annoying fuckers with magazines! That's the whole point, isn't it? Be "politically conscious" without any responsibilities?

Fuckers. The ones at La Trobe are out to get choked, I swear. If ligature marks suddenly start showing up on Commie throats around Bundoora, Melbourne, I was in England at the time, 'kay? We're all agreed that this is the truth, right? Right, guys?
Art Jeweller said…
A an outsider, I think that was very good and needed. But I do ask myself, so what happens now?
Hans
Anonymous said…
Socialist Alliance do sell some very good badges. But they can be annoying.
Also annoying are Coalition MPs Wilson Tuckey (drop the "c", and an "r" in it's place) and Chris Pearce (who spent Rudd's speech reading a magazine). And apparently talkback radio was nuts yesterday with morons saying that the apology should not have happened. It is upsetting how bigoted some people are.
Anonymous said…
Don't forget the Naked Bike Ride though, it's a day for everyone to get their gear off!

Rups xox
Unknown said…
Thanks for your story Dale

Great to hear how powerful the experience was in the heart of Redfern.

i'm still bursting with the emotional richness of the day.

All the best for our wonderful new nation ;-]

michael