KING Billy – or Mullawallah – was an example of reconciliation long before the term ever came into popular use, an expert in the historic figure has claimed.
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Janice Newton, a former University of Ballarat sociology lecturer and currently Ballarat’s forefront researcher into the Indigenous elder and hero, said while reconciliation had a long way to go, it was interesting to note the healing had actually began long ago.
Dr Newton will speak on Mullawallah and her recently-published book Mullawallah: The Last King Billy of Ballarat next week for National Reconciliation Week as part of Ballarat Library’s line-up of events.
“I think Mullawallah is an example of reconciliation because he watched around as all his people died and lost their land...and he was able to make these warm relationships with white people,” she said.
However, Dr Newton said many people still didn’t know much about the Wadawurrung community.
“I think a lot of people have an interest and would like to see more reconciliation of the Aboriginal past and present,” she said.
“(But) a lot of the problem is lack of respect through lack of education.”
Dr Newton’s “obsession” with King Billy began about 16 years ago when she started researching how well-attended his funeral had been in 1896.
She trawled through old newspapers and spoke to descendants of his friends and associates and was able enough information about the celebrated character to fill a book.
“He was an elder and he was a respected person who had introduced to the governor,” she said.
“He was standing for his people...what intrigued me was finding out about the real person.”
She said it was unfortunate to see the recently-named Winter Valley had not been named Mullawallah as suggested by the Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation.
However, she said it was less well-known that Winter Wetlands would be renamed Mullawallah Wetlands – a win for the Wadawurrung community.
Dr Newton will speak on Monday, May 30 from 2pm to 3.30pm at Ballarat Library.
The day will also feature Indigenous story time and workshops for children, a basket-weaving demonstration, a Wathaurung culture workshop for adults, and a screening of Putuparri and the Rainmakers.
