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Eureka uprising over Hicks' inclusion
THE Eureka Stockade's 150th anniversary march is facing an uprising of Victorians opposed to the choice of alleged terrorist David Hicks' father as its leader. Political leaders, community figures and grassroots Victorians have condemned the choice of Terry Hicks to lead Sunday's dawn lantern walk of about 1000 people. Ballarat-born Premier Steve Bracks described the decision as inappropriate, and federal Treasurer Peter Costello lashed the move. "He (David Hicks) was picked up in Afghanistan, and I don't think he was a sightseer," said Mr Costello.
| 'course not! He was a student! |
"If his (Terry Hicks) qualification is that he is the father of David, I don't see what that's got to do with Eureka." Mr Bracks said the Eureka celebration was not there to be hijacked. "Eureka is for everyone. It's not for the National Front on the Right of politics who want to own it," he said. "It's not for extreme Left-wing groups who want to own it. It's for everyone."
| This guy clearly isn't a leftist. Everything is supposed to be political. |
The great-great grandson of Eureka leader Peter Lalor branded the move an "act of lunacy". Descendant Peter Lalor called on organisers to drop Mr Hicks. "It's just lunacy, and has the potential to set back what we've been trying to do over the last 25 years," he said. "This is really dividing the community. We're working so hard to keep this apolitical, and by inviting Terry along they run the risk of marginalising it."
The Herald Sun revealed yesterday Mr Hicks had accepted an invitation by march organisers to lead the event. Opposition Leader Robert Doyle demanded that Mr Hicks be dropped. "Eureka celebrations should be bringing us together, not dividing us. I hope what we can do is convince Mr Hicks that it would not be appropriate to march on Sunday." Prime Minister John Howard said it was up to the organisers but made a veiled swipe at the decision. "But the question of who is invited to participate obviously says something about the feelings and attitudes of those who are organising the gathering. Need I say more?" Mr Howard said.
| Depends on how thick your audience is. |
The decision to choose Mr Hicks was made by lantern walk organiser Graeme Dunstan, and is not supported by the City of Ballarat. "The decision to invite Mr Terry Hicks to lead the Eureka dawn walk is not a council decision and is not endorsed by council," said City of Ballarat chief executive officer Richard Hancock. "There is no leader of the walk, as is befitting of the democratic principles of Eureka."
"That's when I fell for
The leader of the pack! [VROOM! VROOM!]"
"Hey! There ain't no leader of the pack! Get them motorcycles out o' here!" |
Mr Dunstan, whose website www.peacebus.com says he starts each day with breakfast, coffee and "a small cannabis pipe", stood by the decision to involve Mr Hicks. "Terry Hicks was a perfect choice because he typified the spirit of the Eureka Stockade and he was fighting against injustice to free his son," he said.
| "Like, want a hit off this small cannabis pipe, man?" |
Terry Hicks said he would not be deterred, and denied he had made the walk a political football. "My great-grandfather was part of the Eureka Stockade," he said. "We are not sure of his participation, but he was there."
Mr Hicks, whose son is being held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, accused of training with terrorists, said his family connection added weight to his inclusion in the walk. But Mr Bracks said Eureka represented a battle for democracy. "Is it about ordinary people who wanted to have an independence movement," he said. "Put that aside about whether it's a Left movement, a Centre movement, a Right movement ... it's a move for democracy."
Bill Neal, 66, of Ballarat, said he was not in favour of Mr Hicks's involvement. "I think the whole idea has been hijacked. It was not the original intention of the 150th celebrations to be used this way," he said. Mr Neal said either a descendent of Peter Lalor or the Prime Minister should lead the march. Fellow Ballarat resident Raeline Bennett, 49, said: "If someone were to lead it, it should be a descendent." Ron Egeberg, who runs the Eureka Centre, said people had the right to have their say. "That's what Eureka is all about. I don't have an issue with Terry Hicks, but it's unfortunate people want to draw parallels between David Hicks and the Eureka Stockade."
| Rather hard not to, though. |
Ballarat-born Olympian Steve Moneghetti said he hoped forlornly people did not focus on Mr Hicks. "But at least it has given it some publicity. Maybe not for the right reasons, though."
Posted by: God Save The World 2004-12-03 |
