Watch: Historic moment at shooting range brings Butchulla monument one step closer

For possibly the first time in 200 years, shots have been fired into Butchulla shields to show how unfair the battle was in the early days of Maryborough. It comes as the city prepares for a permanent memorial.

As the sound of gunshots echoed around the Fraser Coast shooting range at Dundathu, it wasn’t hard to imagine scenes from more than 200 years ago.

On Monday morning, David Moon from the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia took aim at Butchulla shields to show the unfair match local traditional owners would have been faced with.

Butchulla elder Glen Miller reckons it might be the first time in two centuries Indigenous shields have been fired upon.

But in this instance, it was not done out of hostility.

The wooden shields were created to help make a memorial for the Butchulla lives lost during settlement – a project which is long overdue, Mr Miller said.

Robert Olds from Olds Engineering was on hand to capture photos of the moment.

Both Mr Olds and apprentices from the business will be part of the second phase of bringing the monument to life when the wooden shields that were fired upon on Monday are used as moulds for the metal replicas that will be part of the monument in Queens Park.

Those bullet holes will provide a haunting reminder, of how unequal the battle was and the bravery of the Indigenous people in the face of advanced weaponry.

Mr Miller said traditionally, in conflicts between Aboriginal tribes, spears were thrown that were then thrown back at the other side during the conflict.

“Imagine the noise when Butchulla men first encountered firearms,” Mr Miller said.

“The noise would have been the most impressive thing.”

Mr Miller said looking at the damage done to the shields on the shooting range that day, “they were no defence at all”.

Despite that sad history, the monument would also be a celebration of the survival of the Butchulla people and its traditions since settlement.

“Today’s the next step in the development of the monument for Butchulla warriors,” Mr Miller said.

“Robert’s organised the shoot today and we’ve had the black powder guys shoot the three shields and damage them.

“That’s this step completed.

“Then it’s up to Robert and myself to come up with the design of the memorial and really Robert’s the main man from then on, he’s going to cast it and make it all happen.

“But being able to come down here to go through this process has been great.”

Mr Olds said he was honoured to be part of the process of creating the monument.

He said he had some ideas in mind for the memorial.

“It’s a very sensitive thing, so we’ll be very much guided by Glen.

“I’ve made some suggestions and they’re just suggestions.

“It’s fine if they’re taken on board and it’s fine if they’re not, I’m just as happy.”

More than $27,500 has been raised in donations to bring the monument to life.

It has been a longtime passion project of Mr Miller.

The memorial will also include a plaque which will outline the reason for the memorial and reason for the sculpture.

The three shields will also commemorate the three Butchulla laws; What is good for the land comes first; Do not touch or take anything that does not belong to you, and If you have plenty you must share.