25 April: Anzac Day
More than 1,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enlisted in World War One, including a number of Tasmanian Aboriginal men. At the time, indigenous Australians were not lawfully able to vote, marry a non-Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, drink alcohol, own property, receive award wages or move freely around the country.
Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who tried to enlist were rejected on the grounds of race.
On Anzac Day we honour and remember every soldier who has fought in any war, honouring and remembering our Aboriginal ancestors who fought the forgotten war in lutruwita / Tasmania, in an effort to retain their land, culture, language and way of life.
