With
the impending introduction of the Aborigines Protection Act in 1886, the
Coranderrk Aborigines sent yet another petition to the Chief Secretary.
Aborigines Of Coranderrk To Chief Secretary, 21 September 1886
'. could we get our freedom to go away Shearing and harvesting and
to come home when we wish and also to go for the good of our health
when we need it, and the Aboriginals all wish and hope to have
freedom not to be Bound down by the Protection of the Board or
as it says in the Bill (Clause 5) But we should be free like the
White Population there is only a few Blacks now remining in Victoria
we are all dying away now and we Blacks of Aboriginal Blood, wish
to have now freedom for all our life time, for the Population
is small and the increase is slow. For why does the Board seek
in these latter days more stronger authority than it has yet been.
For there is only 21 [?] Aborigines on this Station Coranderrk
including men and women.'
