| With dignitaries such as
the NT Administrator,
Chief Minister, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
the NT and the Chief Justice of Australia
in attendance,
the ceremony began with a ritual
symbolising the cleansing
tides of a tidal surge, before moving
inside the Supreme
Court building to install the ceremonial poles.
The poles were prepared by some of the
Aboriginal art world’s most renowned artists,
including Gawirrin Gumana - winner of the
2002 Telstra
Art Award - Dhukal Wirrpanda, Wuyal
Wirrpanda, Djambuwa
Marawili, Miniyawany Yunupingu, Wanyubi
Marika and Wukun
Wanambi. The poles will stand forever to commemorate
the memory of a man whose disappearance
almost 70 years
ago still remains unsolved. |
|
|
To understand the story of Dhakiyarr’s
disappearance, you have to travel back to 1933
when he voluntarily
gave himself up to authorities after spearing
Constable Albert
McColl at Woodah Island in the region known today
as Caledon
Bay in east Arnhem Land.
Constable McColl was part of a
police contingent
sent to the region to capture and apprehend those
responsible
for the deaths of five Japanese trepangers who had arrived
in the region keen to harvest the Asian delicacy.
It was never
determined that Dhakiyarr was involved in the incident.
Upon reaching the region, Constable
McColl and
his colleagues began tracking any likely suspects.
Their efforts led to the capture of
Dhakiyarr’s
wife Djaparri, who, along with others, was bound in chains
and lead along by Constable McColl.
On witnessing his wife in chains, Dhakiyarr
- (pronounced Tuckiar) – reacted by
throwing the fatal
spear that pierced Constable McColl’s heart.
Dhakiyarr and others were
eventually persuaded
to give themselves up by a missionary contingent from the
region. On arrival in Darwin, Dhakiyarr was
subsequently charged
and imprisoned for the murder of Constable McColl.
Throughout the trial proceedings
Dhakiyarr’s
lawyer refused to argue that he had been defending his wife
Djaparri at the time of the incident. Dhakiyarr
was eventually
tried, judged, and sentenced to death by hanging.
An appeal to the High Court was lodged, and
on 8 November 1934, the High Court concluded that Dhakiyarr
had been denied natural justice. The Minister for
the Interior
ordered he be set free and allowed to return to
his homelands.
Dhakiyarr was never seen again after his release.
Yolngu believe they are weakened by
not possessing
the bones of Dhakiyarr, which they believe may
have been buried
at the old Kahlin Compound site in Darwin or perhaps even
thrown into the harbour. The ceremony is their
way of freeing
him from his years of restlessness, allowing him
to find peace
at last.
To facilitate the journey of
healing, Dhakiyarr’s
family presented a gift to Constable McColl’s family
in an effort to heal the wounds of their loss 70 years ago.
They also thanked the High Court which in 1934
ruled Dhakiyarr’s
trial in Darwin “was not fair or just”.
Albert McColl’s nephew Alan
McColl travelled
to Darwin to be apart of the ceremony. He said the ceremony
was significant to his family on a variety of levels.
|
Introduction
It
was really special for Dhakiyarr’s family and also a
remembrance of Dhakiyarr. As you seen today, all the senior
and young people came in today to view
Dhakiyarr’s ceremony.
It was a really strong ceremony.