A song recognising the contribution of Indigenous Australian soldiers to past and present war efforts has been revealed at a special ceremony in Canberra. On Every Anzac Day was commissioned by the Australian War Memorial, and written and produced by iconic singer-songwriter John Schumann, who also penned war ballad I was only 19.
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The new song, Schumann said, is a piece of art that could change the Australian perception of Indigenous diggers.
"If the song plays a small part on the road to true reconciliation, I'll be a very happy man."
Schumann said he took to the project from the perspective of "a white fella with a black fella soldier mate", with the lyrics inspired by an old photograph.
"There was one image from the war memorial that I just loved, and it actually became the inspirational driving force behind this," he said.
"There were two soldiers, indigenous and non-indigenous, with their slouch hats on, almost holding each other by the elbows and smiling at each other. For me, that encapsulated exactly what we're trying to achieve here."
Australian War Memorial director Dr Brendan Nelson said he was working to have the song played in the afternoon on Anzac Day, ringing out across the grounds of the war memorial.
"This song will challenge and change the way Australians think, their attitudes towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, and what they have done and what they do for our nation, in our uniform and with our flag," Dr Nelson said.
"Even though [Aboriginal Australians] were not allowed to join the Australian Imperial Force, they joined in considerable numbers and fought and died for Australia.
"They came from a desperately unequal Australia and they returned to a desperately unequal Australia and John Schumann, with the lyrics in On Every Anzac Day, will remind us how we were as a people, and perhaps how we have changed today."
Chief of Army Lieutenant General David Morrison said while today's army has just about reached a two per cent Indigenous Australian workforce, the target is 2.7 per cent by 2016.
The song, available on iTunes, would would resonate with young Indigenous men and women who hope to join the army, he said.
"If that… happens we will welcome them with open arms and value and support their contribution to our nation," he said.
The lyrics that particularly resonated with Indigenous Australians, according to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda, was the line, "there was no black, there was no white, just a dirty khaki brown".
"I played it to my daughter… and she just almost started crying when she heard it the first time," he said.
"It was almost the first time they were treated equally in this country, when they were overseas fighting.
"John [Schumann] always talks about changing cultures through music and art, and I think this has the potential to actually do that for our diggers."
The ceremony at the Australian War Memorial on Saturday also provided the opportunity for Lieutenant General Morrison to introduce the first Australian Indigenous Elder to the army ranks.
"[Retired warrant officer class one Roy Mundine] will come into the army to provide senior Indigenous advice to the Chief of Army, and to all of us who are trying to make a difference with modern day Indigenous soldiers, and the young men and women with Indigenous heritage who are thinking about joining the ADF."
