You could have heard a pin drop as Blake Harris-Dean told his story at McAuley College’s Reconciliation Week assembly.
Blake (pictured, right) and his family come from Yuwibara country, near Mackay.
In the 1860s, there was a great deal of unrest between the early pioneers and the local Indigenous people.
One of the pioneers was killed by a spear and the police retaliated against all the Indigenous people in the area.
A woman, carrying her baby, was chased by mounted police. It is not known whether she jumped, was killed or pushed over the edge of ‘The Leap’, but she lost her life on that day.
This baby, referred to as The Leap Baby was Blake’s great-great-great grandmother.
“As you can tell I come from a long line of strong women and men who lived through many challenging times,” said Blake.
“Thankfully now it is with pride I can stand here and tell you I am a proud Yuwibara man.”
