Reconciliation Week

Minister for local Government and Indigenous Affairs, Jeanette Powell visited the City of Whitehorse on 29th May 2012.  This provided an opportunity for me to chair a meeting between the minister and the Whitehorse Friends for Reconciliation. I sincerely thank Dee Ryall for encouraging this interchange of ideas.

Pictured from left to right: Back row:

 Sharon Partridge, Hon. Jeanette Powell. Dee Ryall MP Mitcham, 

Jim Poulter, Virginia Burns. 

Front row: Dellasaur, John Baxter

Virginia Burns and John Baxter spoke on the "Homes" project which is called "A Black History in Whitehorse". John is known as one of the "stolen generation" and the minister listened with interest to the insights provided by these Friends.

The documentary,"Fractured: Broken ties: Reclaimed lives." explores the experiences of four of the "stolen generation". Its inaugural screening was held at ACMI (Academy for the Moving Image) during Reconciliation Week.
,http://www.abc.net.au/abccontentsales/s3546780.htm



Tim Poulter spoke about the  history of "William Barak" an indigenous man who walked five times from the Aboriginal settlement Coranderrk in Healesville to bring a petition to the Parliament in Melbourne regarding the rights of indigenous people. There are plans for a re-enactment of his journey to occur next year to celebrate the 150th year of this event.

http://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/whatson/current-exhibitions/melbournestory/favourite-objects/coranderrk-petition/

http://www.cv.vic.gov.au/stories/william-barak/5588/william-barak--king-of-the-yarra/

Alana Marsh from LINS, the Local Indigenous Network and
Ollie Phillips, the Indigenous Specialist Officer from the Department of Human Services, was also able to attend.

Here is a link to the City of Whitehorse Reconciliation Action Plan 2011-2015 for those who may be interested.

http://www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/IgnitionSuite/uploads/docs/Whitehorse%20Draft%20Reconciliation%20Action%20Plan%202011-2015.pdf