Gweagal-Bidjigal elders and supporters. Photo: ASEN/Facebook
Elders from the Gweagal-Bidjigal community on the southern side of Sydney near Botany Bay have called for people to join a convergence protesting the Coalition government’s “celebrations” to mark 250 years since Australia was colonised. On January 17, they asked the Australian Student Environment Network to help promote the convergence.
On April 29, 1770, Captain James Cook claimed to have discovered a new colony. Eight years later, the First Fleet landed to start their occupation.
The Australian government is spending $6.7 million on a replica of the Endeavour so it can circumnavigate Australia in April, stopping 39 times, to “celebrate” Captain Cook’s 1770 “discovery”.