| Unfortunately, there are many Australians who know where their ancestors are but cannot give them a proper burial and thereby begin the healing process. | |
| Their ancestors' heads were cut off and pickled in jars. They still languish in British universities and museums. | |
| Despite many entreaties, the British Government will not order the return of these Australian heads so that their descendant families can give them a loving burial. | |
| The reason given is that they are needed for "scientific" study. | One of the heads belongs to Pemulwuy, the 'Rainbow Warrior', an Australian hero who fought for the freedom of his country against the invaders from Europe. |
| Imagine if George Washington had been captured by the British and they refused to return his head because it was needed for "scientific" study, or if Wellington's head languished in a jar in a French museum! | |
Text by Trudy Bray.
| quote from Jim Duffield: "Yagan from the west was one elder so abused. I'm told by Nyoongar people that his head was placed with Liverpool Uni/Hospital and then buried in a cemetery for stillborn children and the Poms do not want to disturb the remains of the children to investigate the return possibilities."
| Trudy: "Yagan of the Nyoongar People.....couldn't find an email address but found the street address and phone no. of The Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool, L7 8XP, UK. Tel: 0151 706 2000" |
| Peter.Davies@liverpool.gov.uk Head of public relations for the City of Liverpool. | How about everyone send him an email encouraging him to do his best to speed up the decision to allow the feasibility study for the exhumation of Yagan's head? |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair | Letters to the Editor, "Guardian" newspaper |
| You may also consider writing to one or two other Labour MPs about this issue: |
Andrew Miller MP Bernie Grant MP Frank Dobson MP John Battle MP Stephen Timms MP Anne Campbell MP Angela Eagle MP Graham Allen MP Andrew Bennett MP Jack Cunningham MP Nigel Griffiths MP Norman Hogg MP Geoff Hoon MP Alan Keen MP Ann Keen MP Jeff Rooker MP Clare Short MP Chris Smith MP |
| source for Labour MPs email addresses: http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/po/table/brit/email.htm |
The names of all Labour Party MPs are on that with the e-mail addresses that are available.
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text edited and marked up by Sarah Peckham, 23/5/96.
last updated 6/6/97.