Monarchists rubbed shoulders with first Australians yesterday when Prince William visited the Block in the inner Sydney suburb of Redfern. Photo: Matt Davis |
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Photo: Matt Davis |
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The Prince arrived in a police motorcade after lunching at the Governor General’s residence with the likes of Delta Goodrem and Michael Clarke. Photo: Matt Davis |
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The 1500-strong crowd was predominantly welcoming. “Look at the community today, people are together. I hope this day creates some positives,” said Redfern local Carole Ann King. Photo Matt Davis |
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Photo: Matt Davis |
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Photo: Matt Davis |
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Among the crowd yesterday were many who feared for the future of Redfern and the community that calls it home. Since the Carr government passed legislation in 2004 focussed on redeveloping the area, debate has raged between developers and those who seek to preserve the area’s Aboriginal heritage. Photo Matt Davis |
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Photo: Matt Davis |
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Photo: Matt Davis |
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Seizing the moment inside the Redfern Community Centre, local elders gave Prince William a petition calling for the Monarch’s intervention in improving the welfare of Indigenous Australians. Photo: Matt Davis |
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Photo: Matt Davis |
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Local elder “Uncle Max” led a traditional cleansing ceremony. Afterwards, the Director of the Aboriginal Medical Service in Redfern, Charles Madden, welcomed the Prince, saying: “I’d like to thank Prince William for coming here to The Block today … Redfern isn’t the bad place people make it out to be.” Photo: Matt Davis |
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Prince William was presented with gifts from different sections of the community. A request was also made to the Prince to return the remains of the great Aboriginal warrior Pemulwuy. Having fought the British colonisers, he was shot in 1802 and his head taken in a jar to England where it remains to this day. Photo: Matt Davis |
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Photo: Matt Davis |
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Although he kissed, hugged and talked with many of the local community, Prince William made no public pronouncement before waving goodbye and leaving all of us Sydney-siders to wonder… Photo: Matt Davis |
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Can we now refer to it as the Block Regis? Photo: Matt Davis |