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Media Release 1 December 2013
Maurice Newman, PM Abbott's razorman, to burn on Eureka Dawn
A cardboard effigy of Mr Maurice Newman, head of PM Abbott's Business Advisory Council, will burn at the Eureka Stockade Memorial dawn of 3 December as part of the commemorations of the 159th anniversary of the Eureka Rebellion.
This will be the fifth Eureka Dawn effigy burning of the public figure judged to be this season's most offensive to the people's rights and liberties and the ritual now has quite a following," said Eurekaphile effigy maker Graeme Dunstan.
He says a lot of consultation went on before choosing Maurice Newman as this year's effigy target.
"But that it came down to the flip of coin between PM Abbott's ideologue and hatchet-man and Abbott's cruel, arrogant and deceitful Immigration Minister, Scott Morrison," he said.
"Mr Newman is a former Chairman of the Australian Stock Exchange. As PM Howard'sĘ appointed the chair of the Australia Broadcasting Commission, he served there as a toe cutter, " said Dr Joe Toscano, convenor of the Reclaim the Radical Spirit of the Eureka Rebellion celebrations.
"As PM Abbott's appointee to the Business Advisory Council, he has been given a long, long lead to pursue the neoliberal agenda of minimising taxes and maximising profits for corporations, privatising commonwealth assets and minimising services to the poor. A reverse Robin Hood, Newman aims to steal from the poor to give to the rich."
The flames of Eureka having dispensed with a cardboard tyrant, Eureka Day will celebrate those who have been conspicuous in defence of rights and liberties with a Eureka Day Awards ceremony under the Southern Cross flag on Bakery Hill from 9.30 am.
Seven Eureka Day Medals will be awarded this year.
Award winners will be include
Jacob Rumbiak
, the Foreign Minister in exile of the West Papuan Independence Movement and the most senior Minister of the West Papuan Independence Movement currently not in an Indonesian jail. Jacob was imprisoned for over a decade and tortured by successive Indonesian governments, before fleeing to Australia where he has been at the forefront of the struggle for an Independent West Papua, representing his people in forums around the world.
Another will be Dr Gary Foley, who as an Aborignal Land Rights activist was a founder of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, now a historian, playwright, actor and broadcaster, he is the most radical, caustic and independent voice of Aboriginal Australia.
Also receiving Eureka Day Medals will include three others to individuals - Elizabeth Conolly, Gwen Goedeckie and Ruth Martin - and two to collectives - No Maccas in the Dandenong Ranges/Hills/Tecoma and the International Organisation for a Participatory Society.
Citations downloadable here.
Photo Opportunity
Graeme Dunstan and the Maurice Newman effigy will be available:
4pm Sunday 1 December 2013
at the Eureka Stockade Memorial
cnr Stawell and Eureka Streets, Ballarat
Further information
Graeme Dunstan, Peacebus.com 0407 951 688
Dr Joe Toscano, Convenor Reclaim the Radical Spirit of the Eureka Rebellion Celebrations 0439 395 489
Media Release 26 November 2013
Effigy Maker returns to Ballarat
for the Eureka Rebellion Commemorations
Itinerant peace activist and effigy maker, Graeme Dunstan, has returned to the Ballarat district to prepare for the celebration of the 159th anniversary of the Eureka Rebellion.
Mr Dunstan, who travels the east coast of Australia organising and supporting protest events, has been supporting the Eureka anniversary commemorations in Ballarat with his distinctive flags and lanterns for the past 15 years.
"Eureka is a core story for understanding the history of social change in Australia from the bottom up," he says. "I am proud to be supporting the Reclaim the Radical Spirit of the Eureka Rebellion celebrations which are convened by Dr Joe Toscano of the Anarchist Media Institute. (Downloadable media release here.)
Mr Dunstan expects that about 150 will gather at 4 am Tuesday 3 December for the Eureka Dawn Service at the Eureka Stockade Memorial, cnr Stawell and Eureka Streets, Ballarat.
"In a time of widespread dissatisfaction with Parliamentary politics and a myriad community based protest groups which are out to save ground water from CSG miners, forests from coal pits, the Reef from coal ports, food from Monsanto GM crops, whistle blowers from Grand Juries, West Papuans from Indonesian oppression, Australians from more US wars and so on, the Eureka rebellion story takes on a special resonance and the Eureka Dawn Service, a special solemnity for activists," he said.
In recent years Mr Dunstan has made an artful addition to the Eureka Dawn service: the dawn burning of a cardboard effigy of what he describes as "this season's most prominent oppressor of rights and liberties."
Last year it was an effigy of Major General Michael Krause who Mr Dunstan describes as the door opener for the US Marines occupation of Darwin.
Although only a week out from the event, Mr Dunstan has yet to decide who his effigy will depict at next Eureka dawn.
"I am still taking nominations," he said. "So many to choose from."
Further information
Graeme Dunstan, Peacebus.com 0407 951 688
Dr Joe Toscano, Convenor, Reclaim the Radical Spirit of the Eureka Rebellion Celebrations 0439 395 489
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