A dawn service was held at 6.00 am on Saturday 25th October 1997, to commemorate the anniversary of the 1834 "Massacre of Pinjarra". This was followed by a day of activities where local Aboriginal and broader community members came together for the seventh year in succession. On this day sixty-three years ago West Australian, Governor Stirling led his troops in a massacre of "troublesome Nyungar", in discharge of his financial debt to the powerful Peel family in Britain who demanded land in lieu of cash for their financing of the Swan River Colony.
This year's "Back to Pinjarra Day" day was held in memory of those Bindjareb Nyungars who died in the Massacre of 1834, and also in recognition of all Aboriginal people who lost their lives in the defence of their country during the invasion/settlement processes. In an act of recognition and reconciliation the Murray Districts Aboriginal Association co-ordinated the day which included; guest speakers, performing artistes - the Bindjareb Middar dance group, the play Bindjareb/Pinjarra now touring Australia, local schools and community groups, karaoke, food stalls, arts and crafts, the Australians for Reconciliation mobile unit, and lots more.
Families came from far to the commemoration which showed at once the strength of the Aboriginal survivors and tragedy of the Australian invasion.
This tragedy was not an isolated event, as such massacres took place all around Australia. But the worst of it is that the Federal Government with their WIK ten point plan are continuing the spirit, not of justice and fairness, but of the disinheritance of the first peoples of Australia. In 1997 we cannot change history. We can only commemorate its horrors, but we can stop them continuing.