We came, we occupied, we declared the land to be ‘Terra Nullius’ a land without people.
The original people had been here 60,000 but were not counted in the census. It took 180 years to be included.
Meanwhile we massacred them, stole the land, raped their women, spread disease, fed them poisoned flour and supplied the grog which destroyed their society. We stole their children and banned the use of their languages.
When it became obvious that first nation people were not going to die out we tried assimilation and paternalism.
Now it’s time to listen to the Aboriginal people. Vote ‘Yes’.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
