28 October 2014

MEDIA STATEMENT

31 October 2014

 

Ms. Dhu’s family thank the people of Australia

 

Family members of the late Ms. Dhu have a message. “Thank you to the people of Australia for supporting us”.

 

Their comments came following last week’s National Day of Action to put an end to deaths in custody. Ms. Dhu was just 22 years old when she lost her life while in police custody in the Pilbara region of Western Australia in August this year.

 

The Aboriginal Legal Service of WA will act for her family at the Coronial Inquest.

 

“This is a tragic story of a young life gone too soon and we will do whatever we can to support the family through this difficult time” said ALSWA CEO Dennis Eggington.

 

Some of Ms. Dhu’s family members attended the National Day of Action on 23rd of October at Edith Square in Geraldton, which focused on deaths in custody and the passing of Ms. Dhu, a tragic story which has touched the hearts of the nation.

 

Representatives from ALSWA’s Civil and Human Rights Unit and the Human Rights Law Centre met with the family in Geraldton, joining Carol Roe, Ms. Dhu’s grandmother, who attended the rally with her sisters and daughter.

 

Carol Roe grew Ms. Dhu up. Speaking about the National Day of Action, she said “It was good to see so much support, but I have such mixed feelings as our baby should be there making for happy days. She was a happy go lucky child”.

 

Robyn Kelly, Carole’s sister was “…really proud as an Aboriginal Elder to gather down there and walking proud knowing that the Aboriginal Nation of Australia was marching with us. I was proud and thank Tasmania for also taking up the stand. United we stand together, divided we fall” said Robyn, before adding:

 

“O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee” (Second Chronicles, chapter 20, Verse 12 (King James Version).