Chanting "walk a mile in their shoes", a diverse crowd met in Melbourne to remember the rescue by the MV Tampa of asylum seekers trying to reach Australia.
About 500 walked on to the refurbished Sandridge Rail Bridge over the Yarra River in the city, on the fifth anniversary of the event that fuelled a debate about Australia's international responsibilities and the illegal arrival of boat people.
Some carried balloons with the words "justice, hope, freedom" and a cartoon of a man in a canoe, while others held aloft tall poles with colourful material flowing from them to represent the sails of boat that had arrived in Australia.
The rally was to remember the events of August 26, 2001, when Norwegian sea captain Arne Rinnan rescued 433 asylum seekers whose boat capsized while they were enroute to Australia.
To worldwide attention the Tampa was ordered not to enter Australian waters, then was seized by authorities before it docked at Christmas Island and the asylum seekers were taken aboard an Australian navy vessel.
Most were taken to Nauru to have their claims for asylum processed, while more than 100 were granted asylum in New Zealand.
Lyn Kennedy, 68, arrived to the rally from Warburton, east of Melbourne, and said the Tampa controversy was a low-point in Australian history.
Ms Kennedy said the feeling against asylum seekers at the time of Tampa harked back to the way people were treated under the White Australia Policy.
She said she was not sure whether the rally would influence the government, but said she wanted to do her bit in the hope of creating change.
West Papuan asylum seeker Lucius Itlay, 16, was also at the rally.
Lucius said things had improved since he arrived in Australia in controversial circumstances in January.
"We need the government of Australia's help in my country," he said.
The rally also heard from outspoken refugee advocate Julian Burnside QC, who condemned the events of five years ago.
"Australia refused to let the Tampa land. Instead of sending the medical help they promised, they sent the SAS. The SAS stormed the ship in what is almost certainly an act of piracy and they held the Tampa hostage," Mr Burnside said.
Afghan asylum seeker Zabi Mazoori, 25, said some of those aboard the Tampa were at the rally, but did not feel secure enough to speak to the media.
"They still don't feel secure. They have been temporary visas for five years," Mr Mazoori said.