Elimatta Aboriginal Support Group - Manly Warringah Pittwater NEWSLETTER WINTER 2020 BLACK LIVES MATTER A thousand stand together in Lismore as Cindy Roberts encouraged all mob to get in a circle together and supporters were invited to stand around them in a circle in unity and solidarity. The Police joined this circle as well. Photo Maddy-Rose Braddon. ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER READERS ARE ADVISED THAT THIS NEWSLETTER CONTAIN NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED ASG ACKNOWLEDGES THE GURINGAI PEOPLE, THE TRADITIONAL OWNERS OF THE LANDS AND THE WATERSTHE OF MAGAZINIA THIS AREA | -1- ackages containing essen- Government and NSWALC will tial items like non-perish- continue to address critical Pable foods and hygiene food needs whilst these com- supplies will be provided to re- munities are being impacted by mote Aboriginal communities COVID19. ROTTNEST ISLAND impacted by COVID-19 meas- NSW ALC Chairperson Anne ures as part of a coordinated Dennis said the packages assistance effort by the NSW would provide some rapid re- INDIGENOUS Government and NSW Aborig- lief to remote vulnerable Abo- inal Land Council (NSWALC). riginal communities. PRISONERS REMEMBERED Aboriginal Affairs NSW Head “We’re working with local Ab- Lil Gordon said the first tranche original communities to ensure he hundreds of Indig- buried there in unmarked of packages – approximately those most at risk and those enous men and boys graves between 1838 and 500 boxes – will commence most in need are delivered the who died while impris- delivery over the next week food and hygiene packages, T 1931. and would make an immediate oned on WA’s Rottnest Island especially the elderly, frail, dis- During those years, more impact to remote communities, abled and disadvantaged. By will be commemorated in a than 4000 Indigenous men where the nearest shops could NSWALC partnering with the bid towards healing and rec- be many kilometres away. and boys from across WA NSW Government, we’re able onciling the past. “We know that COVID-19 is im- to give some meaningful assis- were sent to the island, im- pacting everyone across NSW, tance to the most at need in our Elder Farley Garlett said the prisoned and used as forced but we are also aware that most vulnerable communities,” Whadjuk people would lead labour. there is an acute need in re- Ms Dennis said. the WA government project, Aboriginal Affairs Minister mote Aboriginal communities “We are focusing on our Elders aimed at reconciling the his- where access to basic food and Ben Wyatt said there had first and foremost, as they are tory of Indigenous captivity hygiene supplies is challenging,” our custodians of culture and been years of research and on the island off the coast of Ms Gordon said. truth, but there are more pack- community consultation Fremantle. “We are working closely with a ages available and we encour- about the recognition of specially established Aboriginal age those vulnerable individu- Wadjemup Lighthouse on those prisoners. Leadership Group to hear first- als in isolated communities to Rottnest Island. hand the challenges our com- get in touch and find out if they “Ensuring the history of Abo- munities are facing at this time can register for assistance.” “It is a responsibility we take riginal people on the island is and collaborate with our NSW The assistance packages are up in the spirit of healing and recognised is imperative for Government partners to coor- part of a broader suite of tai- moving forward,” he said. reconciliation,” he said. dinate support and solutions to lored activities being undertak- meet these challenges.” en by the NSW Government to Fellow elder Neville Collard “It will begin the healing Aboriginal Affairs NSW and support remote and vulnerable said it was an important issue process of historic and inter- Office of Emergency Man- Aboriginal communities during for Indigenous people and generational trauma from agement are working with the this period. believed it was time to work the colonisation of Aboriginal NSWALC to identify residents More information, including with the West Australian most in need and arrange the people. details on how to register for government to recognise the deliveries. Aboriginal people the assistance package, is avail- June 2, 2020 island’s history. over 60 with Healthcare Con- able at the NSWALC website cession Cards, who are living in ALC.org.au or by calling a new The Wadjemup Project, communities particularly at risk hotline on 1800 476 777, from named after the Noongar of food security issues arising 7am Tuesday 14 April 2020. from COVID-19 measures, are name for Rottnest Island, will eligible. honour almost 400 Indige- THE NSW ABORIGInaL EDUCatION The partnership between NSW COnsULtatIVE GROUP INC nous men and boys who were 2 | THE ELIMATTA MURRAY-DARLING SYSTEMS NOT ASSESSED FOR ENDANGERED LISTING AFTER OFFICIALS WARNED COALITION WOULD NOT SUPPORT IT truggling river and the Labor government in wetland systems in the 2013. Murray-Darling Basin S After the Coalition won were not assessed for list- ing as critically endangered government, both listings after officials warned the were disallowed under the Morrison government new environment minister, would not support protect- Greg Hunt. It followed a ing them. campaign against the crit- ically endangered listings Environment department by the National Irrigators staff said the two ecological Council. communities were “clear candidates” for assess- Humane Society Interna- ment for a critically endan- tional, the organisation gered listing, documents behind the nomination released under freedom of that led to the 2013 list- information show. But the ings, renominated the river Waterbirds breeding at Macquarie Marshes. The wetland and inner floodplain of the Macquarie Marshes and wetlands systems for and the Lower Murray River and associated wetlands were ‘clear candidates’ for assessment for a crit- environment minister, Sus- ically endangered listing, according to environment department staff. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP san Ley, was “unlikely to assessment for a critical- support” their inclusion on ly endangered listing last Australia last week re- which will greatly assist the the 2019 list of species and year. vealing the government automatic reconsideration habitats under considera- In a briefing to the threat- had stopped listing major of this nomination in 2020”. threats to species under tion for protection, they told ened species scientific Evan Quartermain, Humane the threatened species sci- committee, officials said a national environmental laws. Society International’s head entific committee. tool the department used of programs, said there was The department also told for conservation assess- An environment depart- already more than enough the committee the work re- ments had ranked the ment spokesman said as- scientific evidence to sup- quired to do the assessment two communities as the sessments of new species port listing of the two com- would have “significant re- highest priorities from a and ecological communi- munities. source implications”. conservation perspective ties “were prioritised over among a group of five eco- revisiting past decisions”. Labor’s environment The two communities are logical communities nomi- He said the minister had in- spokeswoman, Terri Butler, known as the “wetland and nated for listing in 2019. cluded two ecological com- said it was “outrageous” inner floodplain of the Mac- munities and 31 species on the Morrison government quarie Marshes”, and the But neither made it on to had not followed scientific the proposed priority as- the 2019 finalised priority “Lower Murray River and assessment list as a result advice. She said the govern- associated wetlands, flood- sessment list, which is ment was attempting “to in- given to the environment of recommendations from plains and groundwater the scientific committee. fluence the outcomes of sci- systems from the junction minister to consider before entific processes designed of the Darling River to the they determine the nomi- A spokesman for Ley to protect our environment”. sea”. nations that will make it on said the department to the final list. made decisions after Richard Kingsford, the di- Both were listed as criti- rector of the Centre for Eco- The briefing to the com- considering “competing cally endangered by then merit and priority”. system Science at the Uni- environment minister Mark mittee is the same docu- versity of New South Wales, Butler in the final days of ment that led to Guardian “In this case the matter has said the scientific research been previously considered on the two communities and determined by parlia- showed both had high lev- ment,” he said. els of biodiversity and were degrading significantly as a The spokesman said Ley result of reduced flooding. had launched “one of the most comprehensive as- “The question would be: sessments of threatened why were they ruled out at species impacts” since last that first step?” he said. summer’s bushfire crisis . “Ideally you want an objective In reasons published on its process for assessing these website, the department things and then you can said “several scientific re- decide what your options ports relevant to the as- are [to manage areas need- sessment of the river and ing protection] after that. wetland systems would That’s a fundamental issue be released during 2019, here.” THE ELIMATTA | 3 LISTED MASSACRES IN 1839 May–June Campaspe 1860 25 June Attack Creek the orders of the Governor, a Plains massacre, VIC (Goaranalki) NT new trial was held using the THE MONTH OF JUNE same evidence and seven of the 1839 12 June Adelaide, SA, 1864 4 June Sander’s run, QLD eleven men were found guilty 1795 7 June - Parramatta and/or hanging of two Kaurna men of the murder of one Aboriginal Hawkesbury River, NSW, Lt Gov- 1864 10 June Expedition 1839 20 June Lake Boga, 10 Range, QLD child and hanged. In his book, ernor William Paterson sends Blood on the Wattle, journalist troops against Aboriginal people kms south-east of Swan Hill, VIC 1865 June Rio Station, Dawson Bruce Elder says that the suc- with instructions to kill as many River, QLD cessful prosecutions resulted as possible.