Rex Eggmolesse on racism and Qld’s blackbirding history
Stung by shocking racism as a child, Rex Eggmolesse could be forgiven for living an anger-filled life. But he says he’s an Australian first and doesn’t want any part of calls for a separate indigenous voice. See why
Sunshine Coast
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Stung by shocking racism as a child, Rex Eggmolesse could be forgiven for living an anger-filled life.
But the proud Nambour kanaka man says he’s an Australian first and doesn’t want any part of calls for a separate indigenous voice or a new Australian flag.
In fact, he’s concerned that flag-burning protests like those seen on the national holiday to mourn the death of the Queen will only stir up more division and hate.
He says his own parents taught him and his siblings to ‘count the friends you have’ rather than the ones you don’t and develop friendships through music, sport, and involvement in the community.
The well loved Nambour Hospital worker is well known for singing at dances and major events across the Sunshine Coast, while he and his family were involved in rugby league, cricket, scouts and anything they could be to build connections.
Rex is, however, on a mission to ensure the story of the 62,000 South Pacific Islanders taken to provide cheap labour for the Queensland and northern NSW sugar industry becomes better know
The story of the blackbirds has disappeared from the school history books, something Rex would love to see reversed as the 160th anniversary of the practice is marked next year.
Rex’s grandfather George Eggmolesse (senior) was ‘recruited’ at 16 years old with two friends while fishing in their dugout canoes off Santo Island, Vanuatu, in 1887.
He was thrown into the hold of the boat and tricked into signing for up to six years of work. Islanders were coaxed into the ships with pretty cloths, beads and mirrors.
‘DREADFUL BLOODSHED’
“Dreadful bloodshed occurred when warring tributes were placed in the same hold, and anyone who got sick was thrown overboard,’’ Rex tells.
If paid, the kanakas would get just six pounds a year, compared to about 60 to 150 pounds for white workers.
His grandmother was taken when she was 12 years old. She also worked in Mon Repos in Bundaberg where she married George and had seven children, including five when they moved to Nambour in 1900.
Rex’s uncle George (junior) worked the land in Buderim and became a top rugby league and cricket player.
He worked for years for the Foote family, who gave him land in lieu of payment, from the top of Rim Road down to Wise Road, in which Immanuel Lutheran College now stands.
Rex himself is the 12th of 13 children born to Jim and Decima Eggmolesse.
“My parents actually raised 14 of us. My Dad’s sister Aunt Lizzie married Walter Tallis Senior (an ancestor of Gordon Tallis) and had daughter Pauline (affectionately known as Ollie). His Aunty passed away with leprosy leaving Ollie to be raised by Rex’ parents.”
As a child, Rex remembers not being invited to birthday parties and kids ‘blowing on their arms’ or wiping the school desks down if he had been sitting there.
But he says his parents and older brothers would have copped it even worse.
“I know now it was just school stuff. The uncertainty that whites had with us as we had with them.
‘BLOWING ON THEIR ARMS’
“But you see little things. You see them walking past you and they accidentally touch you and you see them blowing on their arms.
“You see them putting hankies on chairs, wiping the desk where you sat and put your arm and blowing on things when you touched them.’’
“I’m just very grateful for the upbringing we had. My parents always said ‘Count the friends you have got, not the ones you haven’t.’’
But he admits as a younger man, as he started drinking, the anger surfaced.
“I was a very heavy drinker and came home with a lot of anger against the whites.
‘YOU WANT TO START BASHING HEADS’
“What you used to joke about is no longer a joke and you want to start bashing heads.’’
He says he put his wife of almost 50 years, Vicki, ‘through some horrible stuff’.
Their marriage was opposed by members of both sides of the family.
And the prejudice continued, including towards their children who were subjected to some awful comments from young classmates.
“With the colour thing, I still copped it up until a few years ago,’’ Rex says.
“You walk into a place and you can sense the feeling of there’s a wall there between you and that person.”
Rex credits his faith in God, the upbringing of his parents, and the prayers of his mother and his wife, in helping to turn his life around.
And he is forever grateful for the love and respect he’s received from his hometown.
“Apart from the aches and pains I endured as a child I can look past it now and realise what a blessing this town has been to my folks and me.
“We’ve been accepted and respected in this community.
Rex’s advice to others facing discrimination is to push through it all rather than developing attitude and anger.
‘HONOUR YOUR FOREFATHERS’
“If you want to honour your forefathers, go out and do something, learn to be accepted, find God in the trials and troubles.’’
He and others in his family were called up for national service and fought under the Australian flag.
“We served under one flag, I don’t see why we need another.’’
At school, he remembers starting each day singing the anthem.
“We honoured God, the flag and the country’’
“It reminded us who we are. We are Australians first.’’
“There were times that I hated the fact that I was black because I wanted to be accepted but now I’m just a proud Nambour kanaka boy.’’
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