MEMBERS of the community are invited to a commemoration of the declaration of martial law in Bathurst.
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Martial law was declared in Bathurst in 1824 by British settlers, leading to the Bathurst war and the killing of numerous Wiradyuri.
The Wiradyuri community and Bathurst District Branch of the National Trust are inviting all members of the community to the commemoration, on Wednesday, August 14, which is being run in the hopes of building further recognition of the martial law declaration ahead of its bicentenary in 2024.
The commemoration will feature several discussions and a smoking circle at Burbung Ngurrum, the ceremonial place at the Circle of Stones in Peace Park.
"The National Trust is pleased to join the Wiradyuri community in the process of truth telling and the recognition of the importance of this event in the Bathurst story," Bathurst National Trust chairman Iain McPherson said.
He said the event will continue the message of peace-making and recognition in the Uluru Statement from the Heart made at the 2017 national constitution convention by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander delegates from across the country.
"Bathurst is the oldest inland European settlement and so it was the site of the first conflict between European settlers and the Wiradyuri people, who realised they had to fight to protect their country and culture," Mr McPherson said.
The martial law declaration commemoration event will run between 1pm and 2pm.
