Commemorating the Myall Creek Massacre, another tragedy at Villawood, and JUST US prison newspaper

Monday, 23 May 2022 - 4:00pm to 5:00pm

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time contains audio images and discussion of Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander people who have died


 This week, Marisa presents part one of a yearly commemoration of the Myall Creek Massacre, interviewing Cecilia Blackwell, non-Aboriginal co-chair of the Friends of Myall Creek National Committee alongside Keith Munro, who will be joining the program next Monday 30th May. 

 Each year, people around the country gather on the June long weekend to commemorate the unprovoked massacre of at least 28 Wirrayaraay women, children and older men by a group of stockmen on Myall Creek Station on June 10, 1838. The Myall Creek Memorial, constructed near Bingara was constructed on 10 June 2000 by a group of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people working together in an act of reconciliation. In 2008 the massacre site and memorial were included on the national heritage register and also received NSW state heritage listing in 2010. 

 Cecilia discusses the brutal story of the Myall Creek Massacre and its aftermath, the history of commemorations and memorials, and the importance of representative descendants of both perpetrators and survivors acting in yearly reconciliation events, with an emphasis on truthfully remembering the past, reaching out to community and building a shared vision of the future.

 To find out more about the fundraiser and memorial events in Myall Creek on the 11th & 12th June 2022, or to become a member of Friends of Myall Creek, you can go to their website www.myallcreek.org 


 Later in the program, Marisa speaks with Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition about a tragic further suicide at Villawood Detention Centre, where a New Zealand woman in her early 30s took her own life 22nd May 2022, following at least two other suicides this year (and a large number of attempted suicides) in Villawood and other detention centres. He discusses this epidemic of self-harm and suicides within the detention regime in so-called Australia and the familiar story of distress and abuse of the hands of Serco guards, calling for an inquiry into the lack of oversight, timelines, and procedures involved in immigration detention.

 Also discussed are the large number of people from New Zealand in immigration detention and other temporary visa holders who do not necessarily fall under the umbrella of refugees or asylum seekers, but are commonly deported or detained under existing regulations of section 501 (and how many are unaware of the visa cancellation laws that put 80% of people in immigration detention through visa cancellations), and the struggle ahead in securing rights for all people in this system under the new Labor government, including those on bridging or expired visas and those already in detention, here and offshore. 


 Lastly, Marisa speaks with Brett Collins from Justice Action about a recent partial win in the SA supreme court, allowing the distribution of the JUST US newspaper to prisoners in the state.

 JUST US, running since 2004, is the only newspaper for people in detention that allow prisoners to read a statement from state and federal political parties in regards to prison issues ahead of elections. Since this win, one newspaper will be made available per prisoner in detention nationwide. 

 This is not a complete win, however, with many redactions including an advertisements for the Justice Reform Initiative for the words "justice is failing" and also "Jailbreak Prison Radio", and perhaps most alarmingly, contacts for NGO supports available to prisoners. The struggle continues.

 If you would like a copy of the JustUs newspaper, you can send a request to Justice Action at PO Box 386 Broadway NSW 2007.


 To donate to Doin' Time for 3CR's annual Radiothon fundraiser,
 you can make a tax-deductible donation on 3cr.org.au/donate, or call (03) 9419 8377 during business hours.

 Our target this year is $850 - Keep Community Strong and please donate if you can!

Doin Time 4-5pm Mondays
Monday 4:00pm to 5:00pm
An open forum, presenting information and discussion around issues faced by prisoners in the criminal justice system and migration detention centres.

Presenter

Marisa

Topic