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Morning Star Flag at Eureka Vigil

Morning Star Flag at Eureka Vigil

In the cold and early hours of December 3 2013, people will gather in Ballarat to commemorate the 159th anniversary of the Eureka Rebellion. It was a battle lost at the time in 1854, a slaughter by troopers and police of those who stood their ground for basic rights, but it sent ripples through the colony of Victoria and across Australia at the time. Indeed the event was talked about internationally. Like a rock skipping upon a lake it continues to ripple through time affecting how we interpret rebellion, protest, the social democratic and direct democracy traditions here in Australia.

The 4am vigils at the Eureka Monument on the morning of December 3 usually attract about 50 people, from around Australia and even a few international visitors. Over the last few years West Papuans have joined the vigil and the activities during the day. The events have a raw meaning in their fight for justice and independence for West Papua.

As in previous years, the vigil will be broadcast live on Melbourne community radio 3CR from 4am to 6am.

This year larger numbers of the West Papuan Independence Movement will be involved in all
facets of the celebrations. Mr. Jacob Rumbiak, the Foreign Minister in exile, will be coming to Ballarat to receive a Eureka Australia Day Medal for the personal sacrifices he has personally made (imprisoned for 10 years, tortured by the Indonesian authorities). He fled to Australia in 1998. He is the senior member of the West Papuan Independence Movement who is currently not in an Indonesian prison.

The commemorative dinner on Tuesday evening will feature The Black Orchids, a West Papuan Independence band. The dinner will also feature local respected Ballarat historian, Dr. Anne Beggs-Sunter, who will be giving a talk about Eureka plays and films.

Event Timetable

4am- 10pm Tuesday 3rd DECEMBER 2013
159th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS AT EUREKA STOCKADE SITE
(Corner Stawell & Eureka Streets, Ballarat, VICTORIA)

Celebrate the important elements of the Eureka Rebellion
Direct Democracy – Direct Action – Solidarity – Internationalism

  • 4:00am Gather at the monument at Eureka Park for the Dawn vigil
  • 6:00am Breakfast Eureka Park (Bring Your Own Food & Drinks)
  • 9.00am March From Eureka Park To Bakery Hill To Reaffirm Eureka Oath
  • 9:30am Presentation Eureka Australia Day Medals At Bakery Hill
  • 10:30am Eureka Flag Raising Ceremony Outside Ballarat Town Hall
  • 11:00am Walk To Old Ballarat Cemetery To Pay Our Respects To All Those Who Died In The Eureka Battle Who Are Buried At The Old Ballarat Cemetery (Please Bring Flowers)
  • Noon – 1:00pm Walk From Old Ballarat Cemetery through centre of Ballarat to Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka/ Eureka Park to view the restored Eureka Flag
  • 1.00pm – View Eureka Flag/ Discussion Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka/ Eureka Park
  • 1.30pm – Walk back to Eureka Hall for Late lunch and conversation (Bring Own Food & Drinks)
  • 7:00pm – 10.00pm Ballarat Eureka Commemoration Dinner – Eureka Stockade Hotel, 152 Eureka St – Guest Speaker Dr. Anne Beggs-Sunter on the topic of ‘Eureka plays and films over the years’ Entertainment: West Papuan Independence Movement music and song.
    Booking essential 0439 395 489 close 2 December.

JOIN US – Celebrate the Past by Reclaiming the Present

131122EurekaPoster2013

Effigy Maker returns to Ballarat for the Eureka Rebellion Commemorations

Graeme Dunstan with Effigy in 2011

Graeme Dunstan with Effigy in 2011

Itinerant peace activist and effigy maker, Graeme Dunstan, has returned to the Ballarat district to prepare for the celebration of the 159th anniversary of the Eureka Rebellion.

Mr Dunstan, who travels the east coast of Australia organising and supporting protest events, has been supporting the Eureka anniversary commemorations in Ballarat with his distinctive flags and lanterns for the past 15 years.

Related: Previous Eureka Commemorations: 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002

“Eureka is a core story for understanding the history of social change in Australia from the bottom up,” he says. “I am proud to be supporting the Reclaim the Radical Spirit of the Eureka Rebellion celebrations which are convened by Dr Joe Toscano of the Anarchist Media Institute. (Downloadable media release here.)

Mr Dunstan expects that about 150 will gather at 4 am Tuesday 3 December for the Eureka Dawn Service at the Eureka Stockade Memorial, cnr Stawell and Eureka Streets, Ballarat.

“In a time of widespread dissatisfaction with Parliamentary politics and a myriad community based protest groups which are out to save ground water from CSG miners, forests from coal pits, the Reef from coal ports, food from Monsanto GM crops, whistle blowers from Grand Juries, West Papuans from Indonesian oppression, Australians from more US wars and so on, the Eureka rebellion story takes on a special resonance and the Eureka Dawn Service, a special solemnity for activists,” he said.

In recent years Mr Dunstan has made an artful addition to the Eureka Dawn service: the dawn burning of a cardboard effigy of what he describes as “this season’s most prominent oppressor of rights and liberties.”

Last year it was an effigy of Major General Michael Krause who Mr Dunstan describes as the door opener for the US Marines occupation of Darwin.

Although only a week out from the event, Mr Dunstan has yet to decide who his effigy will depict at next Eureka dawn.

“I am still taking nominations,” he said. “So many to choose from.”

Further information
Graeme Dunstan, Peacebus.com 0407 951 688

Dr Joe Toscano, Convenor, Reclaim the Radical Spirit of the Eureka Rebellion Celebrations 0439 395 489

Original media release from Peacebus.com

Reclaim the Radical Spirit of the Eureka Rebellion Celebrations

The Anarchist Media Institute has been holding Reclaim the Radical Spirit of the Eureka Rebellion Celebrations, in Ballarat on the 3rd December, since 2002. Over the past two years West Papuan Independence activists exiled in Australia have been attending the celebrations in greater numbers.

The West Papuan Independence Movement identifies with the universal values that propelled the Eureka Rebellion. They identify with the aims and principles of the Eureka rebels.
The West Papuan Independence Movement celebrates their Independence Day on the 1st
December, Eureka occurred on the 3rd December. The Morning Star is the principal feature of the West Papuan Independence Movement, while the Southern Cross is the Eureka Rebellion’s primary symbol.

This year larger numbers of the West Papuan Independence Movement will be involved in all
facets of the celebrations. Mr. Jacob Rumbiak, the Foreign Minister in exile, will be coming to Ballarat to receive a Eureka Australia Day Medal for the personal sacrifices he has personally made (imprisoned for 10 years, tortured by the Indonesian authorities). He fled to Australia in 1998. He is the senior member of the West Papuan Independence Movement who is currently not in an Indonesian prison.

The Black Orchids, a West Papuan Independence band, will be providing the entertainment at this year’s Reclaim the Radical Spirit of the Eureka Rebellion Celebrations’ Annual Dinner, at which local respected Ballarat historian, Dr. Anne Beggs-Sunter will be giving a talk about Eureka plays and films.

If you require further information, contact Dr. Joseph Toscano, the Convenor of the Reclaim the Radical Spirit of the Eureka Rebellion Celebrations directly on 0439 395 489 to learn more about the scope of celebrations in Ballarat that begin at 4:00am and end at 10:00pm.

A West Papuan Freedom song at the Diggers Memorial in 2012: