General News
25 May, 2025
Indigenous veterans valued
INDIGENOUS defence veterans are to be honoured at an annual ceremony in Cairns on Saturday, May 31.
The annual Indigenous veterans’ ceremony will once again take place at the Cairns (Gimuy) Esplanade Cenotaph.
Hosted by RSL Queensland and coinciding with National Reconciliation Week, the ceremony acknowledges the contributions of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have served or sacrificed for Australia.
Indigenous Australians have served in every war and conflict involving Australia since 1899, despite being excluded from citizenship until 1967.
Many were also denied the same entitlements as other Australians who fought for their country, at the same time, in the same wars.
The ceremony is an important reminder of the injustices that many Indigenous veterans faced during, but particularly after, their service.
Thursday Island (Waibene)-born, Cairns (Gimuy)-based veteran Uncle Phillip Bowie, who now serves as a Royal Australian Navy Indigenous elder, mentoring Indigenous Navy recruits, will give the keynote speech at the ceremony.
With a proud family history of service, Uncle Phillip was one of the first Torres Strait Islanders to join the Navy and served during the Vietnam War.
“My passion comes from serving and protecting my country,” he said.
“(In the Torres Strait) Indigenous veterans were our role models and we honour them because of our culture.”
Starting at 10am, the ceremony will also be live streamed on RSL Queensland’s YouTube channel.
All members of the community are welcome and attendance is free.
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