The Aboriginal elders that led the charge to have the Australia Day fireworks canned in Fremantle and celebrate the day two days later have finally had their say on the saga.
Respected elder Robert Eggington said the group of elders were never silent; rather, nobody outside of the Fremantle council asked them for their opinion, he claims.
In August, the city voted to scrap its popular Australia Day fireworks event from 2017 after deeming the celebration "culturally insensitive".
The port town then caused a media storm last Friday by announcing it would hold a "culturally-inclusive alternative event" on January 28 to replace its traditional celebrations on Australia Day.
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Fremantle mayor Brad Pettitt continually stated the decision was made after Aboriginal elders in the area made it "loud and clear" the day was not one of celebration.
But social media then went into overdrive, with claims Dr Pettitt was merely grandstanding and being politically correct and had not sought the advice of elders.
Mr Eggington, from Dumbartung – a Nyoongah grass roots advocacy agency – then posted a picture of dozens of elders meeting with Fremantle council in September to quash rumours leaders in the Aboriginal community were never consulted.
"I think it was the right time to post the photo," he said.
"I just wanted to prove that 'yes there was a meeting' and there were senior elders and Nyoongah people there and that is where we decided to ban the fireworks display.
"I haven't met an Aboriginal person who didn't support the decision and the Aboriginal elders spoke to thousands of people in their families and they didn't agree with the fireworks on Australia Day.
"It's a clarification of history, because celebrating the day the first gunshots ploughed our blood into the earth is horrific for Aboriginal people."
Mr Eggington said Aboriginal leaders remained silent until now for one main reason... no one in the media bothered to seek them out.
"I think it's been disgusting the mainstream media sought out Aboriginal people in government-appointed positions like Robert Isaacs (Aboriginal elder) and Ben Wyatt (Labor spokesperson for Aboriginal Affairs) for comment, instead of the people that represent the grass roots advocacy of Aboriginal people," he said.
"We represent the unheard, silent voice."
Mr Eggington said Fremantle's decision would go down in history.
"This decision is 50 years ahead of its time and other councils will follow their lead," he said.
"And I believe Brad Pettitt will become a historic figure because of the decision."
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