Mark Fulford

I know that Indigenous people throughout the state were driven off their lands, by squatters. The squatters brought cattle and sheep. Those animals displaced animals that indigenous peoples hunted. Driven to starvation, indigenous people then began to take stock. That’s when the trouble started. Many mobs (or tribes) were decimated by starvation, clashes with white settlers, small pox and the rape of their women, by white settlers.

I am 45. I attended primary school between 1985 and 1991. I attended secondary school between 1992 and 1997. In my 13 years of school, there was never a time when I was taught anything about indigenous people, culture, history or anything. I feel this history has been hidden for generations. Where I grew up and live now, after recent research, I know now, that in south west Victoria, local indigenous mob were decimated to the point of extinction. So growing up, I hadn’t been exposed to them or their culture. But I always had a feeling that something was missing. Over the last couple of years, I have begun to educate myself. I have read books, researched articles and other things on the internet. I have educated myself. I have talked to my family about this. As a generation X Victorian, I feel that the education system failed me and all my generation, and others, in not teaching us about first peoples in this land we now call Victoria.

I strongly believe that every Victorian child needs to learn what I have learned. Education is the key. Even adults can be educated by way of some sort of tv series that displays these truths, in a watchable format that informs, but not guilts the general audience, that gets the majorities’ attention. I know this will be hard to achieve, but we have to try.

The best way white Victoria can contribute, is to allow themselves to be educated on what indigenous peoples in this state have endured. Many will then be inclined to listen to truth telling. If we can get to this point, everything else will follow, in my opinion.

The best way white Victoria can contribute, is to allow themselves to be educated on what indigenous peoples in this state have endured. Many will then be inclined to listen to truth telling. If we can get to this point, everything else will follow, in my opinion.