Thomas Graham; 29/6/09
At the turn of the 19th century the indigenous leader Pemulwuy was one of the most feared yet respected figures in Sydney. He became such a hero of the Aboriginal resistance that in May 1801 Governor King outlawed Pemulwuy and issued an order for his death or capture. He was shot the following month, and his head was severed and sent to England, at which Governor King wrote that the authorities had got rid of a “terrible pest to the colony, a brave and independent character”. To commemorate his life, the Aboriginal artist Brenda Saunders has created the Pemulwuy Cloak, based on the traditional possum-skin garment worn by her people in the past.
Tags: Aboriginal, Australia, Human Rights