Mackay Survival Day rally draws hundreds in step towards truth-telling

The organisers of the Mackay rally said around 300 attendees walked the Forgan Bridge in support of First Nations people on January 26.

Large crowds gathered on the Forgan Bridge for the Survival Day March, January 26, 2025

The Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal flags covered the Forgan Bridge on Sunday as nearly 300 people turned up for the Mackay Survival Day rally.

The day, which marks the arrival of the First Fleet, is remembered as a day of mourning for those who refuse to celebrate the “dispossession of their peoples”.

Joshua Yow Yehs, member of the Tchundal Malar dance troupe

Local Indigenous dance troupe Tchundal Malar kicked off the day’s proceedings with a Welcome to Country before hundreds set foot against a surprisingly cool breeze.

“The ancestors have blessed us,” said Auntie Zelda, a member of the Survival Day Working Group.

Torres Strait and South Sea Islander traditional dance group perform at Barnes Creek Road Park

The Mackay Torres Strait Islander Cultural Group delivered a captivating dance performance to an intimate crowd under the fig trees at Barnes Creek Road Park.

As the crowd marched back along the side of the bridge, support came in from all angles as cars beeped their horns and a jet ski hoisted the flag on the Pioneer River.

Local Dance Troupe Tchundal Malar performed at the Survival Day rally, January 26, 2025

Auntie Deb Clark says she felt proud of the community, especially non-Indigenous people, who got behind the walk.

“The other things that really stood out for me on the day was our allies coming to support.

“The conversations I had with a few people were so positive and they felt so welcomed to come to it,” she said.

Auntie Anne McDonald, who attended Kevin Rudd’s apology at Parliament House in 2009, kicked off the ‘truth-telling’ with an emotional speech at Bluewater Quay.

Torres Strait and South Sea Islander traditional dance group perform at Bluewater Quay

As a great grandmother and a member of the stolen generation, she hoped no one would ever be institutionalised like she was at a very young age.

“We need to heal, we need to keep the fires burning.

“But the question is how. I believe it’s through education,” she said.

In November last year, the new Crisafulli Government repealed the Path to Treaty Act, ruling out the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry to instead divert the funds towards a broad range of “projects and programs that improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland”.

Ms Quakawoot said hearing stories through regional voices like Ms McDonald’s were what made the Mackay rally unique.

“The audience of the truth telling is very important,” she said.