The script developed for the Walk should be considered the intellectual property of Peter Freund and Fraser Mackay. Fraser Mackay may claim interest in other aspects of the production of the Walk for which he was responsible over 5 years and to which he brought much ingenuity.

I am interested to know what you have in mind for the Eureka Dawn Walk this year, what you might be asking of me and what incentives you might be offering.

At this time, as I am sure you will understand, I have little sympathy for your plight. Karma, karma, karma. Stress, stress, stress.

It maybe that Cr Jones and your good self will appreciate more deeply and value more highly what Fraser Mackay and I accomplished producing the Dawn Walk over the past 5 years, if we step back this year and let unravel the delusions that prevailed when the decision not to fund us again was made.

Bottom line is that both Fraser and I want the Eureka Sunday to be established and recognised as an event of national significance. But I for one will not work with people who do not respect the skill and effort we have brought to the work.

Keep breathing. Back winners.

Graeme Dunstan

From David Norman Vendy JP
Chairperson of Eureka Committee
Mayor City of Greater Ballarat
Emailed dated 7 September 2003

Thank you for your E mail dated 5 September

As you may or may not know the Ballarat City Council has had to be extremely stringent in its budget this year especially with Eureka 149th given the $ requirements for the 150th.

After the ART GALLERY decided not to proceed with the walk this year there just was no money budgeted for the dawn walk we then decided that to not let it drop off and proceed with the walk under a subcommittee(unpaid)

That subcommittee are still formulating the walk however given your Email I will seek legal advice to ensure that we do not have any ongoing issues with the inferences in your letter.

If you have a previous contract could you please send me copy as my advice from the Art Gallery management is that there is not one in existence .I will also have discussions with Peter Freund as we want him to participate in the event.

I thank you sincerely for your work in the past on this event how ever we are not in a position to spend 10 K funding it this year, I am however disappointed in the inferences in your letter (If I am reading it properly) re intellectual property.

We on the Eureka commeratioins committee are here for the future ongoing commitment to Eureka and what it means to the nation we certainly are not trying to benefit personally out of any project. I would hope that you might support in principle what many volunteers are doing this year to ensure the foundations are in place for the 150-the celebrations.

Any advice etc on any Eureka events we run this year leading into the 150th would be greatly appreciated.

EUREKA IS FOR ALL

Regards and thanks for your ongoing interest

David Norman Vendy JP

From: Graeme Dunstan
To: David Vendy
Chairperson of Eureka Committee
Mayor City of Greater Ballarat
Email dated: 7 Sep 2003

Thank you for responding, David.

Good to be included in the dialogue about the future of the Dawn Walk.

Both Fraser Mackay and I put enormous skill and effort into creating the Eureka Dawn Walk as a lantern lit story telling. We gave it our best shot as artists and professional events producers and achieved a miracle or three. A new event. National media attention. An enchanted and loyal following. A cultural tourism success.

So it has been a continuing puzzle to us that we were made redundant to the Dawn Walk planning in the lead up to the 150th anniversary. We got the impression that either the event was to be killed off by its enemies (it always had them amongst the Irish faction of Eurekaphiles) or re-managed by people assuming some skill and experience superior to ours. Both options appeared to us delusions born of ignorance.

You tell me the reason for the exclusion was Ballarat City Council's stringent budget.

Did Councillors take a cut to their allowances? Did the GM or any of the senior staff take a pay cut? If not why must we artists take a fee cut to help the Council out. It all comes down to spending priorities and it is plain where Councils' priorities are when it comes to Fraser Mackay, Graeme Dunstan and the Dawn Walk. Don't even rate!

So you would be right, David, in reading the inference that I am not happy with your sub committee usurping our art and assuming rights to it. Your very presumption is proof of your disrespect. The Ballarat Fine Art Gallery hired us as artists but you guys treat us like serfs.

I am not interested in talking to lawyers about this. You need to understand that my lanterns are a signature art for me and I don't want them associated with a bum event.

Please do not assume me ungenerous. Just a bit wary of amateurs. You might be able to convince me of your sub committee's competence and experience in the production of lantern events but I doubt.

Let me kindly suggest that you give the Dawn Walk a rest this year and that the Council save its pennies so that it might hire for the 150th the professionals that have demonstrated their skill at producing the Dawn Walk over the past 5 years as Eureka Sunday's premier crowd participation event.

Let me also warn you against toughing it out and using the lanterns without my agreement. The scandal will inevitably drive away the co-operation of Ballarat arts community and discourage volunteers. The poison of ill-will will stricken the production this year and kill it off all together before the 150th.

This is the best advice that I can offer you and it arises because I want the Eureka commemorations to work; I want Eureka for all too. I want Eureka to be deeply and artfully remembered. No bullshit. No timidity. No cheapening. No fear.

May we find common ground.

Graeme Dunstan

A brief history of the Eureka Dawn Lantern Walk will help in the understanding of the cost structure of this event and its aims and achievements.

The Eureka Dawn Lantern Walk grew out of the Dawn Walk researched and organised by Jack Harvey for five years. In 1998 the then CEO, Janet Dore, asked that a signature event be devised for Ballarat as part of the duties of Co-ordinator of Art and Culture, a temporary position held concurrently with that of the Gallery Director.

Jack Harvey agreed to the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery taking on the organisation of the Walk and enhancing it. Jack's interest in the Walk had been to prove his theory of where the site of the Stockade was, and the people who had joined him on the Walk were generally well versed in the story of Eureka.

The Gallery's aim was to popularise the Walk and to attract a new audience to Eureka both from within the community and beyond. Graeme Dunstan, an experienced festival and community event organiser, was visiting Ballarat at this time and could immediately envisage a lantern walk with wide community involvement.

The 1998 Walk was organised with minimal funds and a very short time lead. To get the message out to the community lantern-making and storytelling workshops were held for two weeks prior to the event. Each school child took a lantern home with them. The Courier was strongly supportive. It was an outstanding success with 300 walkers including many young families, a new audience for Eureka and Australia-wide publicity for Ballarat and Eureka.

After the 1999 Walk led by Tom Evans, the organising team decided to change the format of the Event and to seek a sponsor. The numbers on each Walk were beyond our original estimation and we needed to plan a better way to conduct the Walk taking into account that many walkers knew nothing about Eureka. A script was commissioned describing the events, putting it firstly into a historical context and secondly into a contemporary context suggesting the ongoing significance. We needed to provide sound systems, platforms for speakers and lighting around the speaker.

Each year we assessed the impact and added new elements or took out parts that did not work. For instance music became an integral part of each storytelling stop, hot toddies were served at Eastern Oval, and to achieve a peaceful meditative conclusion the last two Walks finished at Lake Penhaurick looking at the beautiful reflection of the banner form the Eureka Centre in the water of the Lake. Special people were invited to join the Walk, the Honourable Don Chip, founder of the Australian Democtats, Martin Flanagan from the Age, Barry Dickins author and poet, and Harry Van Moorst environmentalist.

What helped in the success of the event.
The inspired creative input by Graeme Dunstan
The practical skills and organisational abilities of Fraser Mackay
The dedication and enthusiasm of the whole team of Graeme Dunstan, Fraser Mackay, Peter Freund, Gayle Hart and Margaret Rich
The involvement of schools in the workshops and storytelling
The special guests
Volunteers, volunteers and more volunteers especially at 3.30 am 3 December
Support from The CityÕs Parks and Environment Section and the Media Unit
Support from The Ballarat Courier
The willingness of Gallery staff to take on added workloads
Word of mouth publicity about the beauty of the event

There were also factors that worked against the Walk but in the end they were not important as the community continued to support a unique event

BUDGET
Expenditure on the Walks
There were no formal written contracts for any of the external contractors during the five years of the Lantern Walks

1998 Walk
Total cost figures unavailable
Fees paid to Graeme Dunstan and Fraser Mackay

1999 Walk
Total cost $6,284
Fees paid to Graeme Dunstan $2,500,and Fraser Mackay $1,000
Materials and services $2,784

2000 Walk
Total cost $9,106
Fees paid to Graeme Dunstan $3,000, Fraser Mackay $2,000, Peter Freund $500 for script and performance, Barry Dickins for poem and performance
Materials and services $3,306

2001 Walk
Total cost $8,628
Fees paid to Graeme Dunstan $2,500, Fraser Mackay $2,500, Peter Freund $500
Materials and services $3,128

2002 Walk
Total cost $7,824
Fees paid to Graeme Dunstan $2,500, Fraser Mackey $2,500, Peter Freund $500, Barry Dickins $300 Materials and services $2,024

Income for the Walks
In 1998 Schools were charged for the workshops and walkers paid for their lanterns to assist with the costs. From 1999 on workshops were free but those who attended a workshop got a free lantern while other walkers paid for their lanterns

In 2000 the Gallery obtained a sponsor to assist with the costs. Unfortunately the GalleryÕs sponsorship approaches were undermined by a threatening media campaign and direct contact by those who opposed the Walk.

Any lanterns left over at the end of each Walk were stored to be used the following year. As reported earlier this year to the Eureka Commemorations Committee, there are lanterns and lantern-making materials belonging to the City in a locked store-room in the Mining Exchange to be used for a future Dawn Walk.

On Tuesday 2 October 2003 Cr David Vendy went on air on ABC Radio Ballarat an announced that the Eureka Dawn Walk had been cancelled for 2003 because of problems with 'copyright and public liability insurance'.

Graeme Dunstan responded a couple of days latter by going on ABC Radio Ballarat and announcing that the Eureka Dawn Walk would be going ahead independently of Ballarat City Council and without public liability insurance, dependent for its production costs on the generosity of Friends of the Eureka Day Walk.

Subject: healing differences
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 14:58:20 +1000
To: Ron Egeberg
Director, Eureka Centre
Chair, Eureka Committee, Mayor of Ballarat
Mayor City of Greater Ballarat
Email dated: 7 Sep 2003

Ron,

The Eureka Dawn Walk is certainly going to happen this year. And next year.

We need to co-ordinate our planning.

This year I intend assembling the Dawn Walkers in Camp Street and following the same route as previous years and have the crowd arrive at the Stockade memorial at dawn.

For starters, is there a Dawn Oration this year? With whom should I be co-ordinating?

I regret the division that has arisen between the producers of the Dawn Walk and the Eureka Committee and I am eager that it be healed. From the viewpoint of people outside Ballarat and of punters wanting commemorate the Eureka Stockade, our differences are as irrelevant as they incomprehensible.

The art of the Dawn Walk will continue to catch popular imagination and remain the signature event for Eureka Week. The sooner it is integrated with the other celebrations, the better.

May you be well and happy.

Graeme Dunstan

Subject: Eureka Dawn Walk
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 16:36:08 +1100
From: "Egeberg Ron"
To: Graeme Dunstan

CC: Mayor , Miller David , Tania & Jeremy Bannister

Graeme,

Thank you for your email.

For your event to proceed the following would need to be adhered to.

1. PUBLIC LIABILITY

Council's insurance + policy stipulates that:

"Any group or committee who wishing to undertake an event of any type on Council Land, or Crown Land over which Council is Committee of Management must have public liability insurance to a minimum of $10 million. This is not negotiable".

Council's combined liability policy will only protect Council's interest, and will in some circumstances extend to indemnify Section 86 or Special Committees of Council.

Through the MAV community-based groups can now usually obtain reasonably priced insurance through the Community Groups Insurance Scheme.

2. EVENT MANAGEMENT

Council requires that the following applications must be completed and approvals sought within the appropriate timelines prior to the event:

These are all essential, for the event to be able to proceed on Council -controlled land.

There is a meeting of the Commemorations Sub-Committee tomorrow Thursday . I will need confirmation that points 1 & 2 are covered by you for the event to be considered part of this year's Eureka Week.

Regards

Ron Egeberg
Director, The Eureka Centre
Telephone: 03 5333 1854
email: ronegeberg@ballarat.vic.gov.au
www.eurekaballarat.com

Subject: seeking to open a way
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 11:23:41 +1000
From: Graeme Dunstan
To: David Vendy
Chairperson of Eureka Committee
Mayor City of Greater Ballarat
CC: Ron Egeberg , David Miller , Mark O'Brien , fraser mackay , Peter Freund , Tania & Jeremy Bannister , Stephen Jones , Stuart Vaskess

webgreetings David,

I have been in communication with Ron Egeberg, Director of Eureka Centre, seeking to open a way to integrate the Dawn Walk into the planning for the Eureka Week celebrations. This year and next.

Ron kindly sent me bylaw information about public liability insurance and permits suggesting when these points are covered we might talk. Ron seems to be meat in a sandwich in this matter and it is you as chair of the Eureka Committee of the City of Ballarat to whom I should be conveying my questions and my interest in conciliation.

Let be begin by saying again that I regret the division that has arisen between the Eureka Committee and the producers of the Dawn Walk and most earnestly desire better communication so that we might work towards our common goal collaboratively and make the annual Eureka Stockade commemorations events of national significance.

As I have made clear to Ron, the Dawn Walk will certainly happen this year. And next. This year it will assemble in Alfred Deakin Place off Camp Street at 3.30 am on Sunday 7 December and follow the route taken in previous years and arrive at the Stockade Memorial at dawn.

Like last year it will be an artful and deeply moving storytelling experience for its 150 to 250 or so participants. Once again it will be the biggest outdoor crowd participation event during the Eureka Week commemorations and once again be recognised as the signature event.

I have neither the means nor the interest to pay public liability insurance for the event. Or applying for a Council permit.

If these things are important to you and the Eureka Committee (and I am aware of the nightmare public liability has become for local government) please feel free to pay the insurance and apply for the permit. You will avoid angst and disappointment if you not expect me to do so.

My position is that freedom of assembly precedes and transcends such obstacles and concerns. And when I say this to you, I know I am standing in the direct legacy of the Eureka diggers we are labouring to commemorate.

Freedom of assembly is one of the core rights and liberties the Eureka diggers died to defend. This is how it stands for me. How does it stand for you?

When might we meet, face to face, man to man, and talk this through? What is the path from here to collaboration?

May you be a happy mayor.

May the Eureka commemorations prosper.

Graeme Dunstan

Subject: Re: seeking to open a way
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 20:38:31 +1100
From: "davidvendy"
To: "Tania & Jeremy Bannister" , "Ron Egeberg" ,

Graeme

I would be happy for you, Ron, Jeremy,and I to meet on this issue. If you contact Ron he will organise a time.

Thanks for your interest

David

Subject: To meet or not to meet. Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2003 12:14:33 +1000
From: Graeme Dunstan Organization: Peacebus.com
To: David Vendy
CC: Ron Egeberg , fraser mackay

dear David,

No confirmation of a time for our meeting yet. I had proposed to Ron Egeberg tomorrow late afternoon as a good time for me. I need a bit of notice to get Fraser Mackay there.

Please let me know today if the meeting is on or not

I intend to proceed with a media launch for the Eureka Dawn Walk lantern making next Thursday morning.

It would be good for me if we can meet on Wednesday for it will inform what i say to the media on Thursday.

May you be well and happy.

Graeme Dunstan
Peacebus.com

Subject: meeting?
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2003 16:25:09 +1000
From: Graeme Dunstan
Organization: Peacebus.com
To: David Vendy

dear David,

What is happening about our meeting, mate?

I am now in and around Ballarat. Lantern making at Grainery Lane, 34 Doveton Street from Monday.

Feel free to drop in.

May you be well and happy.

Graeme

Subject: Eureka
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2003 11:46:02 +1100
From: "Black Marie"
To: "'graemedunstan@rainbowregion.com'"

Dear Graeme,

I have been asked to advise Council on the question of Public Liability Insurance and I was wondering if I could meet with you to discuss same asap. Please Contact me on 53205524 so a meeting time can be organised hopefully for this afternoon.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Marie Black

Subject: Grainery lane
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2003 16:36:07 +1000
From: Graeme Dunstan
Organization: Peacebus.com
To: Black Marie

dear Marie,

Happy to meet with you.

I am at the rear Grainery Lane Theatre, 34 Doveton Street North. Come meet me there.

Will be away on a media call from 10.30 am through noon tomorrow. But otherwise, this is where I hang out. Phone is 5333 5442 but it is in the bar which doesn't open till after noon.

May you be well and happy.

Graeme
www.peacebus.com/Eureka/

Subject: 2003 Eureka Dawn Walk
Date: Tue, 02 Dec 2003 10:35:01 +1000
From: Graeme Dunstan
Organization: Peacebus.com
To: Craig Gillard

dear Sgt Gillard,

Thanks for meeting with me yesterday to discuss the 2003 Eureka Dawn Walk at such short notice.

I wanted to let you know that the Eureka Dawn Walk was happening again this year in much the same format as last year.

This year it will assemble in Alfred Deakin Place off Camp Street at 3.30 am Sunday 7 December and it will follow the same route as previous years; viz. north along Camp street, across Peel Street, under the rail line at the pedestrian tunnel, across Eastern Oval, along Yarrowee Creek under Black Mountain, south along Queens Street crossing the Melbourne Road at the lights, and onto the Eureka Memorial arriving about 5.30 am for the Dawn oration.

I am expecting about 100 participants each carrying a candle lit lantern. We will stay on the footpath in Peel Street but like previous years I expect we will spill out onto the roadways along the rest of the route. Not that there is much traffic to worry about at the time of morning.

This year the event is being produced independently of Ballarat City Council and we will not have access to the Mining Exchange as our assembly area. As a result I will be assembling the lanterns in Alfred Deakin Place earlier in the evening and with some Dawn Walk companions conducting a vigil there.

At this time I expect that the event will be public liability insurance free, each participant taking personal responsibility for their safety and wellbeing. This is causing Ballarat City Council some angst and negotiations are in train to find a compromise.

If no compromise is found, the event will be going ahead regardless as a protest against the impost of the insurance industry on public use of public place. Where better to be celebrations the right to freedom of assembly that at the Eureka commemorations?

I would welcome an opportunity to meet the police officers on patrol that evening and invite them to come introduce themselves to my helpers and I when we are in Alfred Deakin Place.

May the Eureka blood sacrifice be honoured. May our commemorations be joyful, artful and safe.

Graeme Dunstan
Lanternmaker
www.peacebus.com/Eureka/

Subject: RE: 2003 Eureka Dawn Walk
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2003 15:49:25 +1100
From: "Gillard, Craig"
To: "'graemedunstan@rainbowregion.com'"

Graeme,

Thanks for the email detailing the path of the walk.

From a Police perspective, I have no real issues, with the exception of people walking on mass on the road. As the event is not officially sanctioned by the Ballarat City Council, I would expect that you do not have any permit or authority to conduct a march which would require marchers to utilise the roadway. The implications such action are obvious.

I have tasked one of my Sergeants to attend at your forming point and be present where possible to assist in the orderly conduct of the walk, but ask that you and your attendees do not walk on mass on the roadway.

Regards

Craig Gillard
Senior Sergeant 22608
Ballarat Police Station.
Ph: 53 366041 Mobile: 0409 546 311

Subject: No massing on the roadways.
Date: Tue, 02 Dec 2003 22:52:13 +1000
From: Graeme Dunstan
Organization: Peacebus.com
To: "Gillard, Craig, Ballarat Police "

Thank you, Craig.

No massing on the roadways.

I will do best I can to make this event deeply moving, artful and safe.

Come join it and be a witness participant. Bring your family and friends.

May you be well and happy.

Graeme Dunstan
Lantern Maker

Subject: Dawn Walk Public liability insurance
Date: Tue, 02 Dec 2003 22:41:10 +1000
From: Graeme Dunstan
Organization: Peacebus.com
To: Black Marie
CC: David Vendy , David Miller , Ron Egeberg , Craig Gillard , Doug Sarah , Mark O'Brien , Stephen Jones , Tania & Jeremy Bannister , ABC Radio Ballarat , Karen McCann , Kerry and Mike Cooper, Radio 3BA, Radio Power FM

Marie Black
Legal Officer
Ballarat City Council

dear Marie,

Our meeting today to discuss public liability insurance for the Eureka Dawn Walk (Anthony Cummins, Tracy Hull, yourself, myself at Grainery Lane) was not one of the best. One angry face in front me and two worried ones.

Anthony departed in a huff saying words to the effect that he could listen to a "soap boxing fool" no more. You and Tracy trotted out after him but returned to make another effort at peacemaking. Good on you.

Let me reiterate my position so that you will not be disappointed or worry needlessly.

The 2003 Eureka Dawn Walk will certainly happen. It will assemble in Alfred Deakin Place at 3.30 am and depart from there at about 4 am and arrive at the Stockade Memorial at dawn.

For it, I and no one else i know will be applying for a permit, submitting a risk management plan or paying public liability insurance.

If these things are important to you and the Council, sort it out. They are your hoops and you can jump through them. Rather I am going to give my attention and energy to producing a commemoration of the attack on the Eureka Stockade that is deeply moving, artful and safe.

If some one else wants to pay the public liability insurance for the event, let them. Okay with me.

But I say public liability insurance is a corporate tax on public use of public space. An insurance industry scam that benefits none but the corporate rich and inhibits many a worthy community event.

Further more paying it transgresses one of the liberties the Eureka diggers of 1854 died defending. Freedom of assembly. It is the very essence of liberty not to ask permission to assert it; nor to pay corporate crooks for the privilege.

What are you going to do? That was my question to you as you and Tracy left to consider your position.

Are you going to be in Alfred Deakin Place at 3.30 am Sunday 7 December and telling people to disperse? Why would you or anyone else in their right mind want to do this?

Difficult situation for you as Council's Legal Officer, I know. Not personal. May you find a way to resolve the tensions around you. Keep breathing.

May the Eureka commemorations prosper.

Graeme Dunstan
Lantern Maker

Subject: Denial on the Yarrowee
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2003 22:41:10 +1000
From: Graeme Dunstan
Organization: Peacebus.com
To: David Vendy
CC: David Miller , Ron Egeberg , Doug Sarah , Mark O'Brien , Stephen Jones , Tania & Jeremy Bannister , ABC Radio Ballarat , Karen McCann , Kerry and Mike Cooper, Radio 3BA, Radio Power FM

David Vendy,
Mayor of Ballarat

dear David,

No sit down and talk type meeting yet. And now I'm out of town. Will be back next Monday 15 Dec. Might we meet sometime then? Might I suggest a beer at the Old Colonist at 6 pm?

All in all the celebrations for the 149th Eureka anniversary were not great successes in terms of crowd turn out. Monster Rally, Diggers March and Dawn Walk each drew about 60 punters. In terms of event quality, the Diggers March was the best yet

The Monday editorial in the Courier reflecting on the poor attendance at the Eureka celebrations blamed the people of Ballarat for being blase. This is like a shopkeeper blaming his customers for not taking notice of his wares. Maybe he is not offering them what they want. Blaming others for one's failures will not make success more likely.

If this kind of denial prevails, I reckon we can safely assume that the 150th Eureka celebrations will have all the flair, excitement and crowd participation of the Centenary of Federation celebrations in Ballarat.

Seems like shooting messengers, ostracizing and closing off to people with different ideas and different ways of doing things is a Yarrawee lifestyle. And so the herd goes galloping over the cliff together, totally satisfied with the properness of their consensus, because it was after all made by very proper people.

This is what I am experiencing. No replies to emails. No answers to direct questions. No invitation to meetings to sit down and talk about outcomes and future directions. No response to such invitations from me. Since the weekend the Ballarat Courier has put a block on my emails so that my media statements bounce and they do not have to be bothered reading them. Amazing!

I suppose I alarmed you and many other people with my interjection after the Police Commissioner's speech at the Sunday Eureka lunch. I alarmed myself. "Will you say sorry, Christine?" I demanded dramatically.

Sometimes these impulses arise in me with such intensity that I just have to do it, live my truth and live with its karma. This is the way I am. It was the same god/devil impulse that got me under LBJ's car back in 1966. Not that I want to offend. Rather to challenge.

I spoke to Christine Nixon immediately afterwards (I'm a fan!) and she was in no way offended. In truth she took the issue of the Victoria Police apologising for its actions at the Eureka Stockade very seriously. On her recent visit to mansfield, the Kelly saga people had also challenged her about the actions of the police in that story.

There is good sense in Christine Nixon saying sorry. And a great news story for the 150th. Ending denial will lead to healing and better community based policing. An excellent PR stance for the Police Victoria to take in their 150th celebrations.

I heard from Gough Whitlam's minder that Gough when had my interjection explained, approved.

Anyway I am going to run with this in the same way as the people running with the Mandela invite. Good on them.

So I am now working to ensure that the 2004 Eureka Dawn Walk is bigger and better.

The question arises whether some of that State grant to the Ballarat City Council for the Eureka celebrations will be used to fund the Dawn Walk next year in some way or other.

Funding would make it easier for me and bring me more into the official fold.

But funded or not I will continue to put in my skills as an events organiser and promoter. I will plant my banner in Ballarat and work on the Eureka commemoration with who ever joins me in courage, determination and artfulness, doing best I can with what I got. From long experience I know that such commitment always makes a difference.

Official or unofficial, funded or unfunded, insider or out, insured or uninsured, I will be there with a bunch of other Dawn Walkers at the Eureka memorial Sunday 5 December next year.

Will you? Will you be happy?

I wish so.

Graeme Dunstan
Peacebus.com