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Australia Officially Recognises Aboriginal War Vets for First Time

31 May 2007 - ShortNews.com, Germany - Australian governments have finally recognised their indigenous war veterans for the first time, with a wreath-laying memorial ceremony today in Sydney. Approximately 5,500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander soldiers fought in the two world wars.

Indigenous war veterens honoured Sydney 2007 photo courtesy Katrina Mathieson

Education Minister for New South Wales, John Della Bosca, said: "Thousands of indigenous soldiers fought side by side with white Australians on battlegrounds across the world and this ceremony is an important event..."

Last month, on Anzac Day, a group of indigenous soldiers held a march through the Sydney suburb of Redfern, shunning traditional Anzac Day services, where the sacrifices of their community were completely ignored.

Source: ShortNews.com, Germany

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