This Newsletter Is Supported by a Community Grant from the City of Port Phillip

Mungo…

This newsletter is supported by a Community Grant from the City of Port Phillip and printed with the assistance of the Member for Albert Park, Martin Foley, MP. November, 2008

FROM THE CO-CHAIR In the afternoon, delegates broke up into groups to sit in on a range of workshops. Topics included networking with the “Learning Together” was an apt title for this year’s local Indigenous community; lobbying media for local government and local reconciliation group conference reconciliation groups; how councils and local rec groups hosted by ANTaR Victoria and Reconciliation Victoria at the can work together effectively; treaties and agreement, Aboriginal Advancement League, Northcote last month. The making and resources for working with schools. The latter, day-long event presents a great chance to network with presented by a member of Whitehorse Friends for like-minded people, learn what other groups have and are Reconciliation who have done some wonderfully innovative doing and to hear from some inspiring Indigenous speakers. things with schools in their area, provided many useful tips and information that I believe will be helpful with our I was among the 90 or so participants who included fellow proposed project to get more Indigenous-focussed books PPCfR members Noelleen and Harry Ward, Emely McCord, into local schools and we will be speaking with the Council, Helen Bennett and Allison Stout as well as Bo Svoronos elders and schools regarding our plans. There is quite a lot and David McGinnis from the City of Port Phillip. Allison of work involved to get our idea off the ground, so if anyone presented an excellent Case Study focussing on our work reading Mungo has some good ideas, contacts and/or time with the local council. It was quite impressive and I’d like to to spare, please do contact the office. see it posted onto COPP’s website, as well as our own. (The Council gave us two tickets for which we are thankful). Beverley Broadbent was the guest speaker at our October meeting and spoke eloquently about working and visits to a With an eye on the forthcoming State local government range of communities, and special sites, around the top of elections, the organisers presented delegates with a Australia, noting some of the changes she’s observed over ‘Statement of Reconciliation’ as to how councils can the years she has been involved with Indigenous people. It promote reconciliation in Victoria. It is something that could began some 30 years ago when she was appointed an be particularly relevant to any new councillors elected to the Aboriginal liaison person with the Australian Conservation City of Port Phillip next month and is a tool that we plan to Foundation. Hopefully, some parts of Beverley’s talk can be take advantage of once the dust of the elections has reproduced in future editions of Mungo. settled. Also of interest was a talk from Len Clarke, Co Chair of the Victorian Traditional Owners Land Justice I’m pleased to advise that we will have a guest speaker next Group, about the work this group is doing, including month, our last formal meeting of the year. Allison Stout, establishment of frameworks for dealing with negotiations who is studying for her doctorate in architecture at the and ways of dealing with traditional owners, valuable tool University of Melbourne, will give a presentation about her for groups, councils and politicians alike. Other speakers work, called “Connecting Cultures: a look into sustainable included a three-woman delegation from Mildura who Indigenous housing.” I encourage everyone to come along passionately outlined the plight of their school destined for and enjoy some refreshments afterwards. closure by the Minister for Education, one four Victorian College of Koorie Education (KODE) schools, being Peg Jones, an inspirational and revered PPCfR member, targeted. As parents and teachers, they were quite adamant passed away recently and on behalf of the group, I want to that their students would not be advantaged by attending extend our heartfelt condolences to her family. Some the new ‘Koori pathway schools’ being proposed and could tributes to her are included in this issue. find few positives for the future of their koorie kids who from Next meeting: Tuesday, 18 November, 6.30pm. Guest prep to grade 6, will be moved into mainstream schools and speaker: Allison Stout on “Connecting Cultures: a look into for year 7-10, into the new pathway schools set up to sustainable Indigenous housing.” This is our last formal replace KODE and did not feel it would encourage the meeting for the year, so please do come along if you can! students to remain in school longer. (More details below). Rosemary Rule 1 ANTaR Victoria News ANTaR’s AGM Saturday, 8 November 2008, 1:30pm, Next meeting: Brotherhood of St Laurence, Fitzroy. Keynote speaker, Tuesday, 18th November, 2008, 6.30pm, Emerald Hill Richard Frankland will speak about Cultural Safety - an Library, Bank Street, South Melbourne (opp. the Town upcoming idea in Australia’s discourse of Indigenous Hall). Everyone most welcome. Reconciliation, an idea developed around the need to provide quality care services for people from different ethnicities than the mainstream. Richard’s talk will focus on Tributes to Peg Jones his involvement with the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care "A long-time PPCfR member, Peg was always an Agency’s “Cultural Safety Project”. He will discuss some of inspiration. She was the most brilliant person to have at any the project’s incentives, such as what is required from public event for the way she talked and engaged with government, mainstream organisations and the Aboriginal people and a loyal and staunch supporter of our work. It community to identify and re-create places of cultural safety was always a delight to see Peg, well into her 90’s, come for Aboriginal children and young people. You are invited to into our evening meetings with her warm smile and learn more about how cultural strengthening through this unassuming manner, yet insightful comments.” – Rosemary framework is the best approach to ensuring Koorie kids Rule. “ We knew her well as a lovely, principled and have a better future! RSVP by 4 November to ANTaR, 9419 dedicated person in Save Albert Park, before we got to 3613; www.antarvictoria.org.au know her again in the Reconciliation Group” - Noelleen & Harry Ward. “Thanks for letting me know. She was a tough Council elections individual and very alert. An amazing Grandmother figure Local Government plays a fundamental role in promoting for me” - Joe Malignaggi. “Peg was a truly charming and reconciliation in Victorian communities. Each new Council special person,” - Gael Wilson. “Peg was a great person, a must formulate an overarching Strategic Plan in the first six gold standard for all of us” - Liz Gallois months of its term. This is a crucial opportunity to ensure that your Council commits to real and positive steps Yalukit Wilam Ngargee festival towards reconciliation between Indigenous and non- National Indigenous Television (NITV) will be screening a indigenous communities. By committing to the actions 58 minute documentary filmed during this years Yalukit contained in this statement, councillors will send a Wilam Ngargee: People Place Gathering held in February powerful message to the electorate: as elected 2008, the Indigenous cultural festival produced by the City Councillors, they will work to improve opportunities for of Port Phillip in partnership with the local Aboriginal and Aboriginal members of your community. Ask your local Torres Strait Islander community. The documentary government candidates if they are willing to commit to features Kutcha Edwards, Tjimba and the Yung Warriors, specific actions on reconciliation. Use the Reconciliation Deline Briscoe, Den the Fish, James Henry, the Brolga Commitment Statement developed by ANTaR Victoria & Boys, Andy Alberts and Shane Howard plus much more Reconciliation Victoria. Go to the ANTAR website: and will appear on NITV, a pay-tv station, on 7 November at www.antarvictoria.org.au and click on 'Statement'. 10.00pm. A live CD compilation was also recorded during The official candidates are listed on the Victorian Electoral the festival. CD's are only $15 and still available for a limited Commission: www.vec.vic.gov.au/lgelections.htmlwebsite. time from Bo Svoronos, Indigenous Arts Officer, For more information, contact ANTaR, 9419 3616 [email protected], phone 0412 694 453, 9209 6502. The 2009 Yalukit Wilam Ngargee: People News from Reconciliation Victoria Place Gathering runs from 29 Jan to 7 Feb 2009. Full The Australian Bureau of Statistics is conducting the program details to be released online during December on National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey http://www.stkildafestival.com.au/YalukitWilamNgargee. throughout Victoria from now until March 2009. A broad range of information will be collected from Aboriginal and Yalukit Wilam Ngargee: People Place Gathering 2009 Torres Strait Islander peoples to understand the Celebrating Indigenous bay culture. YWN is a low carbon, connections between various indicators of social, low impact, good karma festival promoting sustainable emotional and economic well-being and to explore the transport. relationships within and between different aspects of their lives. It is a sample survey so only some people will be Festival Volunteers Needed selected to take part. But when an ABS interviewer calls at Are you seeking festival experience particularly in your house it is really important that you participate. For sustainable events? The Yalukit Wilam Ngargee: People more information contact Fiona Shelley, 9615 7510. Place Gathering program needs volunteers to assist with the evaluation of its environmental impact plus other festival Ten Canoes Website Launched. volunteer roles. Following on from the successful 2005 film Ten Canoes, this website celebrates and explores the history, art and As one of the festival's sustainable volunteers your cultures of the Yolgnu people in Arnhem land. The site tells assistance will help us to develop communication strategies the stories of the people using video, narrative, music and on the environmental performance of the festival and image galleries. suggest ways to improve the environmental performance of Worth a look at: www.12canoes.com.au the festival through reference to existing event management tools. For further detailed information email: Yulkuum-Jerrang: Indigenous Economic Development [email protected]. Please type into the subject Conference. box: YWN09 and sustainable volunteers The Koorie Business Network has confirmed the dates for this conference as 27-29 May 2009 and is pleased to invite

2 expressions of interest for entertainment and artistic publications services and a call for papers and registrations. For more  promoting Bayside libraries’ Indigenous collection; information see the website:  including Indigenous representation at Bayside www.kbnconference.vic.gov.au Councillor induction’;  investigation of forming special relations with an Report shows Closing the Gap has positive effect on Indigenous community; economy.  considering targetted Indigenous employment at Reconciliation Australia has just released this report Bayside Council. examining the economic impact of closing the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and other Australians. It It is also proposed to review – as part of a wider review of shows that GDP would increase by 1% and Government committees advising Council – the Indigenous Affairs revenue would be up by $4.6 billion dollars if the 17 year Advisory Committee’s role and structure, etc. gap was closed by 2029. www.reconciliation.org.au/.pdf The booklet has already been funded in the current budget; many other items will only proceed if funding is Koorie schools closing voted in the coming years. See: www.bayside.vic.gov.au One of our members, Jane Tombs, is heavily involved with for the plan in full, and consultation process; 9521 6184 for a unique Aboriginal School in Glenroy that she says “has queries. wonderful staff and needy kids they are SO dedicated to!” Ken Blackman, Co-Chair IAAC Jane exhorts members – and others- to sign a petition to keep this and the other three Victorian koori schools open. Human Rights Arts and Film Festival, 12-30 November For more details and/or a copy of the petition to sign, This year the festival includes the following Indigenous contact Jane at: [email protected], or Joy content: Sheridan, one of teachers - [email protected]. 'Screen Dreaming -- Indigenous Stories Session', five short films by Indigenous film-makers covering subjects Arts news ranging from the 'Yolngu Zorba Chooky Dancers' to Nana's Malthouse Theatre Yibiyung presents a play by Dallas delicious Kangaroo Steww. Watch out for Angie Abdilla's Winmar directed by Wesley Enoch - “To have mixed blood film Wanja, told through the eyes of Auntie Barb and her we fitted neither here nor there. Life was decided for you,” faithful blue-heeler who watch over the residents of 'The a story inspired by Dallas’s grandmother torn from her Block' in Redfern as escalating police tension threatens to family along with countless other girls like her, told by a unravel a community. For more information go to: cast of Indigenous and non-Indigenous performers www.hraff.org.au speaking for a generation stolen and silenced. Malthouse Theatre, October 30-November 13. “Time to Talk” with Christmas Shopping hosted by Peter Clarke after the performance on The Koorie Night Market is on again, just in time for November 11. Bookings: 9685 5111. Ilbijerri Theatre is Christmas shopping! Held in the Northcote Town Hall and celebrating the VIPA Awards with a special night at the courtyard, there are arts and crafts, musical entertainment famous Spiegeltent, hosted by Tammy Anderson and plenty of food and drink. 6 – 9:30 pm Wed Nov 26 and Featuring Kutcha Edwards, Peter Rotumah & other special Wed Dec !7. Another date to be confirmed. Go to: guests; Thursday 6 November, 6pm - 8.30pm Arts Centre www.darebin.vic.gov.au forecourt. Tickets: $10.00 through Ticketmaster: 1300 723 038. Return of the Sacred Kingfisher Festival Sat 29 November, 3 – 9:00 pm. Cnr Roberts and Stewart Correction: Streeds, Brunswick East. This festival features stage 1 of a In the article about the Lurujarri Trail by Vivienne and two-year project featuring Indigenous and Auslan sign Andrew MacCutcheon, the writers would like to correct two languages. It involves collaboration between Wurundjeri points, namely that Therese Roe (‘gran’) is Paddy Roe’s Elder Ian Hunger, the Deaf Indigenous Community, Deaf daughter and that Joe is his grandson. They extend their Victoria, professional artists and CERES. apologies to the Roe family. City of Stonnington Festival: Viva! 2008-10-26Sat 15 The Future in Bayside November, 11am – 6pm. Music ranges from Indigenous With Council elections looming, on October 21 Bayside artists to Afro beats. Free activities include face painting, Council considered a Strategic Action Plan for 2009-11. craft workshops, roving performers, and more. Watch out This updates and revises Plans that began in 2002. for Stonnington Citizens for Reconciliation, who will have a Included in the proposal, which Council endorsed for stall at the festival. community consulation over the next 2 months, are:  publishing an Indigenous Bayside booklet; Watch out for: First Australians: An Illustrated History,  continuing investigation of the Site of ed. Rachel Perkins and Marcia Langton withWayne Reconciliation proposal; Atkinson, James Boyce, RG Kimber, Steve Kinnane, Noel  maintaining and promoting the Indigenous Garden Loos and Bruce Pascoe. Forthcoming from Melbourne (Sandringham) University Publishing, November 2008-10-26  holding events in Reconciliation and NAIDOC Weeks; Australasian World Music Expo, international  acknowledging Boon Wurrung history, culture and Indigenous, roots and world music. 20 – 23 November, in signage, displays, exhibitions, and Council Victorian Arts Centre.