Victoria's forgotten war - The Freedom Fighters'

Dec 01, 2014, 08:39 PM

Five of the last Tasmanian Aboriginal people were shipped to the Victorian mainland to help the 'Aboriginal Protector' civilise the blacks - instead they gave the settlers such a fright, burning their houses and their money etc, that many of the settlers families left their 'stolen properties' and moved closer to Melbourne for protection. After a major hunting spree with mobs of police and settlers, they were finally caught and after a court case that they were not even allowed to speak at, the two male warriors ended up being the first hangings in Victoria - public hangings in a carnival atmosphere.

Known in Victoria as 'The Freedom Fighters', the two who gave their lives for First Nations peoples freedom were Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner. On the 20th January each year, there is a commemoration on the site of where they were hung.

Listen to this - it paints an amazing picture. A story that would not be too dissimilar to hundreds of other lost stories across Australia.