The 2003 Eureka Dawn Walk assembled from 3.30 am on Sunday 7 December 2003 in Alfred Deakin Place, Camp Street, which is behind the Mining Exchange in Ballarat, Victoria.

It was the sixth annual Dawn Walk and like previous years it was an artful, lantern-lit, story telling procession that followed the 3.5 km route the British soldiers took on their dawn attack on the diggers' stockade on the Eureka gold field on Sunday 3 December 1854.

Like previous years it was a meditation on courage in the face of tyranny and a deeply moving remembrance of the blood sacrifice which lit the bonfires of reform that established liberal democracy in Australia.

Unlike previous years it was produced independently of the Ballarat City Council and was a public liability insurance free event. For background information on this evolution, see the correspondence with Ballarat City Council.

A Peacebus.com production report on the 2003 Eureka Dawn Walk is in prerparation. Meanwhile here below is a thank you letter from Joyce Healy, who participated on an electric scooter.

Al Grassby, Eureka historian and former Minister for Immigration in Whiltam government1972-75, and Frank Wlliams, Chair of the Eureka Stockade Memorial Association, face the dawn wrapped in Eureka flag, Sunday 7 December 2003

Thank you, Eureka Dawn Walk,
a letter of praise, Ballarat 7th December 2003

I thought you might like to hear about one experience that I found amusing.

I had to feel sorry for the guy making his way a little unsteadily north along Peel St at 4.30 am after a night on the town. He must have been perturbed to see what looked like a line of glow worms as the lantern carrying walkers snaked their way quietly across Peel St from Eastern Oval.

Due to an access problem I'd had to backtrack and take a short detour from the route travelled by the main contingent. Unbeknown to the poor fellow, I was silently approaching from the south on my scooter, with a lantern swinging out in front of me like a carrot in front of a donkey. As I overtook him, he was obviously startled. Turning abruptly he looked at me through glazed eyes, let out an expletive followed by "Ya scared the living shit out of me."

Well excuse me! Poor fellow.

Dear Graeme,

Thank you for encouraging me to participate in the Eureka Dawn Walk 2003. It was a wonderful experience - one both my husband and I will treasure.

I wanted to be involved for many years, but wheelchair access issues seemed an insurmountable barrier. The City Council had made a commitment to address the major concern, but the works were not completed in time. A public liability insurance? Well that's another story!

However it was a great privilege to be part of the 149th Anniversary 'unofficial' walk. It really affirmed my faith in the generosity of people - 'strangers' who were only too willing to help me, my husband and my scooter negotiate a couple of tricky spots and thereby allow us to experience this wonderful occasion.

The lanterns added such atmosphere. Story teller Gerard Tobin seemed to make the historical facts and the characters so real and the other speakers reinforced the continuing need to fight against injustice What an assortment of people walked - adults children, even some young men. I don't know whether you arranged the didgeridoo player - but what a hauntingly appropriate refrain!

Thanks again for organising such a great event which attracted a good size crowd despite the limited publicity given by the media. Perhaps we will see you next year.

Kindest regards

Joyce Healy