More and more, contemporary Australia, as a nation, is articulating its debt to Aboriginal Australia, these days. One of the most important spokesmen of this more sensitive narrative was ex-Prime Minister Mr. Kevin Rudd, who apologized for the mistakes Australian authorities made in the past regarding aboriginal issues. (The question of genocide might have or might not have been brought up). But more likely than not, as genocide is central to the whole matter. This acknowledgment brought spontaneous tears and weeping, to the eyes of many aboriginal elders in the meeting. This not only brought centuries of bloodshed, hatred, and conflict to rest but also healing and cessation of any curses invoked by aboriginal 'Kurdiatchas' or medicine men. Curses and spells might not be as instantly lethal as bullets but they certainly can last longer!
In our story, set in pioneering Australia, things were coming to a flash-point. The row brewing up was caused by the undiplomatic and insensitive way one British officer, James Peacock, was handling the conflict. He was determined to remove a sacred tree that the aborigines have revered for ages, at whatever cost. It became a tussle of wills in the end. To tear down the tree was tantamount to plucking out the heart of the Australian aboriginals. Can you feel how agonizing it was? A less colonial approach, would no doubt have yielded better results. No wonder, so many of the natives wander about, as if without a heart or hope for the future.