Vandals deface Australia's Myall Creek memorial
{{byline|date=January 31, 2005 |location=[[w:Inverell|Inverell, Australia]]}}Police are investigating damage to a memorial to the 28 victims of the [[w:Myall Creek Massacre|Myall Creek massacre]]. The Plaques which are in the town of [[w:Inverell|Inverell]] in northern [[w:NSW|New South Wales]], [[w:Australia|Australia]] had the words "murder", "women" and "children" hammered from it leaving the plaque unreadable.

Inverell police Senior Constable Chris Curtin said that "We got reports [from a local [[w:aboriganal|aboriganal]] elder] that deep gouges have been scratched into the plaques along the memorial walk. Several of the plaques will have to be replaced."

The [[w:Government of New South Wales|NSW government]] has reacted to the event by calling the vandalism an appalling and insulting crime. "This is a gross act of vandalism, Defacing this memorial is disrespectful and insulting to the people who were murdered, and their families." Aboriginal Affairs Minister Andrew Refshauge said.

"All you're doing is really showing the blackness in your own heart, the sadness of your own spirit - there is much more at stake here than that," Mr Refshauge continued. "The reconciliation of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in the region is already a powerful movement - join it, don't trash it."

The Myall Creek massacre is particually important in [[w:Australian History|Australian history]], as it marks the first time that [[w:European|European]]s were charged and convicted of murdering Aborigines. "It was the first occasion when European law was applied to deliver justice for Aboriginal people," Mr Refshauge said. "That's why this act of vandalism is especially appalling."

=== References ===
*{{source|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200501/s1292623.htm
|title=Minister condemns Indigenous memorial vandalism
|author= 
|pub=ABC News Online
|date=Monday, January 31, 2005. 3:09pm (AEDT)}}
*{{source|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Vandals-deface-two-Australian-memorialss/2005/01/31/1107020322985.html
|title=Vandals deface two Australian memorials
|author= 
|pub=Sydney Morning Herald
|date=January 31, 2005 - 7:09PM}}
*{{source|url=http://www.thesundaymail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,12103130%255E421,00.html
|title= Aboriginal massacre memorial defaced
|author= 
|pub=The Sunday Mail
|date=31jan05}}

 
{{archive}}

[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:Published]]
Police are investigating damage to a memorial to the 28 victims of the Myall Creek massacre. The Plaques which are in the town of Inverell in northern New South Wales, Australia had the words "murder", "women" and "children" hammered from it leaving the plaque unreadable.

Inverell police Senior Constable Chris Curtin said that "We got reports from a local aboriganal elder that deep gouges have been scratched into the plaques along the memorial walk. Several of the plaques will have to be replaced."

The NSW government has reacted to the event by calling the vandalism an appalling and insulting crime. "This is a gross act of vandalism, Defacing this memorial is disrespectful and insulting to the people who were murdered, and their families." Aboriginal Affairs Minister Andrew Refshauge said.

"All you're doing is really showing the blackness in your own heart, the sadness of your own spirit - there is much more at stake here than that," Mr Refshauge continued. "The reconciliation of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in the region is already a powerful movement - join it, don't trash it."

The Myall Creek massacre is particually important in Australian history, as it marks the first time that Europeans were charged and convicted of murdering Aborigines. "It was the first occasion when European law was applied to deliver justice for Aboriginal people," Mr Refshauge said. "That's why this act of vandalism is especially appalling."
Crime and law Oceania Published