Today in History

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Today 30th November 2010 is probably one of the most important days in Australian History and makes me proud to be one.

On the morning of Thursday 30th November 1854. Diggers led by Peter Lalor swore by the "Southern Cross" to hazard all in defence of their rights. They then began construction of a rough stocakde on the Eureka diggings.
And as they say, "The rest is History".

Link here. (http://www.ballaratreformleague.org.au/)

[AstralTraveller]

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~natinfo/lawson/fightateurekastockade.htm

Also in the same vein:

Freedom on the Wallaby
by Henry Lawson, 1891, during the great Shearer's Strike of 1891 which led to the formation of the ALP under the tree of knowledge in Barcaldine

Australia's a big country
An' Freedom's humping bluey,
An' Freedom's on the wallaby
Oh! don't you hear 'er cooey?
She's just begun to boomerang,
She'll knock the tyrants silly,
She's goin' to light another fire
And boil another billy.
Our fathers toiled for bitter bread
While loafers thrived beside 'em,
But food to eat and clothes to wear,
Their native land denied 'em.
An' so they left their native land
In spite of their devotion,
An' so they came, or if they stole,
Were sent across the ocean.
Then Freedom couldn't stand the glare
O' Royalty's regalia,
She left the loafers where they were,
An' came out to Australia.
But now across the mighty main
The chains have come ter bind her
She little thought to see again
The wrongs she left behind her.
Our parents toil'd to make a home
Hard grubbin 'twas an' clearin'
They wasn't crowded much with lords
When they was pioneering.
But now that we have made the land
A garden full of promise,
Old Greed must crook 'is dirty hand
And come ter take it from us.
So we must fly a rebel flag,
As others did before us,
And we must sing a rebel song
And join in rebel chorus.
We'll make the tyrants feel the sting
O' those that they would throttle;
They needn't say the fault is ours
If blood should stain the wattle!

[ballaratdragons]

Thank you John for the reminder.

It seems you are more on top of Ballarat history than Ballarat is.

I was in Ballarat all day today (had an appointment) and Cheryl, my son Jake, and I were looking for things to do while we were in there.
There has been no advertising leading up to the event date, no news stories or advertising on the day, and nothing around Ballarat to tell anyone it is Eureka Day.

Very sad.

Ususally, in years passed, the Peter Lalor Hotel advertises the event and hold a special day at the pub, they advertise and hold a special day at the Eureks Stockade Hotel, and heavily advertise and hold a re-enactment at the Eureka Stockade!

Must all be finished now that the Stockade replica has been enclosed inside the Eureka Tourist Centre :zzz2: out of public view and you have to pay an entry fee to see it.

It used to just sit out where it originally was and was free to climb all over!

Just checked Ballarat News.
Nope, nothing about the event :shrug:

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Ken, Eureka day is December 3rd the day the battle was fought, 30th of November is where they swore to fight for their rights under the "Southern Cross" (Eureka Flag).

The remains of the Eureka Flag to me is a National Treasure and I believe should always remain so. David has also rightly pointed out about The Tree of Knowledge in Barcaldine (which some idiot poisoned) that has been preserved are moments in our short history that all Australians should know and be proud of.

[ballaratdragons]

Ahhhh, ok John.

Nothing was mentioned about todays event regardless. Nothing on the Ballarat 6pm TV news either.

And still, there has been no promotional stuff or any advertising done about Eureka Day in a few days time.

When the stockade was out in a public park and free to everyone they had huge crowds and a re-enactment. Was great to see.
But alas, it is no more due to the stockade being moved to inside a Tourist centre where you have to pay to see it.

[astroron]

Not to mention I was born on this day in 1942:lol::lol::lol:
Cheers :thumbsup:

[AdrianF]

Happy Birthday Ron.:drink::drink::drink::cheers:

Adrian

[Steffen]

As were Jonathan Swift, Mark Twain and Winston Churchill :)

Happy birthday, Ron!

Cheers
Steffen.

[AstralTraveller]

Those diggers chose their moment well!! :P:P :lol: