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Published On: Apr 07, 2008 02:16 PM
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Uluru Handover Ceremony
In 1985, a decision was made by the Hawke Labor
Government to return Uluru, previously known as Ayers Rock, to the traditional
owners, the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara people. I was fortunate enough to
be there on that day.
Stepping onto the tarmac at Yulara airport was an
entry into another dimension. Bathed in the warmth of the October sun, there was
immediate comfort, an affinity with the colour and clarity of light, and an
inexplicable feeling of having been there before. We were bussed into Yulara
village, the multimillion dollar resort still under construction to serve the
tourist industry, and dissembled at the Sheraton hotel. (Little did I know that
just five years later I would be selling magnificent Aboriginal artworks from
this same hotel).From the Sheraton a
large assemble of people gathered, and eventually a much larger bus cruised the
forty kilometres out to Uluru, which dominated the landscape from Yulara, and
grew in stature and power as we approached. (view photographs)
The return of Uluru to the
traditional owners was to take place at the Mutitjulu community, nestled in the
bush on the far side of the rock from Yulara, and the original site of the early
tourism development before the Yulara resort was mooted. (Also the site of a
couple of infamous incidents - one being that of the crazed truck driver,
Douglas Crabbe, who drove his semi-trailer through the bar of the Ayers Rock
Hotel after an altercation with some drinkers, killing five people around the
pool table. The other incident was the disappearance from the camp ground of the
baby Azaria Chamberlain in the jaws of a dingo, and the consequent controversy.
At the time of my arrival at Yulara, Lindy Chamberlain was serving the second
year of her life term in a Darwin prison, and in the Northern Territory at that
time, life meant life. After three years and a number of enquiries, she was
released.)There were black faces from
all over Australia to celebrate this historic occasion, as well as many white
supporters of the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara people who still held the
ancient stories of Uluru in their hearts and minds. The Federal Labor Government
under Prime Minister Bob Hawke had initiated the return of Uluru in the spirit
of natural justice and land rights, much to the disgust of the conservative
Northern Territory Government, who not only boycotted the ceremony, but withdrew
the Northern Territory Conservation officers from their long established
relationship with the Uluru/Katatjuta National Park, a decision they would
regret in due course.
Because of the short sighted attitude
of the NT Government, the ceremony on that day would entail the official
hand-over to the traditional owners by the Governor General, Sir Ninian
Stephens, to be followed by the signing of a ninety-nine year lease agreement
to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Federal Body which would take
over the management of the park, with traditional owners maintaining a majority
management role on the Park Board. There was other opposition to the ceremony
within the Australian community, mainly from those ignorant of Aboriginal
relationship to land, but also from opportunistic
racists.The gathering of people on the
red earth that day, with the Rock providing a magnificent backdrop to the
official table, had no thoughts of opposition to the anticipation and excitement
which was building up as the official party's arrival drew near. I noted a space
to the left of the table, which would enable a close view of the ceremony for
photography, and settled there, bathed in warmth, comfort, and a great sense of
the occasion. Oblivious of the import of the day, some camp dogs settled in the
shade of the table, and slept
soundly.Looking back on the
photographs I took that day, it is clear that the majority of the crowd were
looking at the ceremonial table, on a rise, with Uluru behind, with the sun
almost directly in their eyes - unfortunately for them, but great for the
photographic record I was able to take. The official party entered the area from
my left as I looked down, crossed to their seats at the right hand side of the
table, and in a state of great excitement, the ceremony began. The three main
protagonists were the Governor General, the Federal Minister for Aboriginal
Affairs, Clive Holding, and the chair of the Pitjantjatjara Council, Yami
Lester, who was blinded as a young man in the era of nucear bomb testing at Emu
fields. Yami, in spite of his blindness, had taken advantage of his treatment
time in Adelaide when his blindness struck, to get a good education, and it was
as an eloquent speaker of English and Pitjanjatjara that he was to play the role
of interpreter for the benifit of the many bush people in
attendance.The ceremony was conducted
with great dignity and gravitas. In reference to the opposition to the
hand-over, Yami joked that 'some people seem to think that the Rock will not be
here tomorrow, that it might be towed
away.....'Sir Ninian spoke with
eloquence, pausing for Yami to interpret. He spoke of Uluru being 'not only the
physical heart of the country, but the spiritual heart.....' The ceremony
proceeded, with great excitement building, until with an overwhelming sense of
euphoria, the framed, glass encased certificate of ownership was passed to the
traditional owners, who held both it, and a small child above their heads to the
delight of the crowd. At the height
of these celebrations, a light plane flew directly overhead, trailing a giant
sign which read, 'AYERS ROCK FOR ALL AUSTRALIANS.' It was a well timed but
futile gesture, which underlined the presence of many in the population adverse
to any recognition of Aboriginal rights to their land and culture. For precious
moments the Pitjantjatjara were the sole, unencumbered owners to their land.
Their signatures on the lease agreement which followed, many of which were
simple crosses, set in place what has proved to be an extremely successful
fomula for the management of the park.
There ought to be no illusions however,
about the standard of living within the Mutitjulu Community, which, despite a
certain amount of financial benifit from park income, has not sunstantially
changed the poverty sticken, petrol sniffing, and violence ridden settlement. It
is the starkest of contrasts to the multimillion dollar swimming pooled, air
conditioned, retaurant dotted luxury on the other side, all generated by the
tourist industry, privately owned, outside the park, and with not a black
employee in sight.
The afternoon concluded with some
traditional dance, and a barbeque. We were bussed back to Yulara Village, and my
introduction to the red centre had begun in spectacular style.
Posted: Thu - September 21, 2006 at 04:08 PM
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