Public Meeting with the Federal Members for Chisholm, Deakin and Aston where all were asked for their reactions to a broadcast on ABC RN by Patrick Dodson.
A weekend forum, ‘Whitehorse Deliberates on Indigenous Issues’ in which 65 randomly chosen residents of Whitehorse, 25 First Nations People and 20 representatives from local government and service groups listened to presentations by 4 eminent Aboriginal people and workshopped the ideas covered. A report of this event is available.
Follow-up events emerged from this forum. For example, WHCC conducted an employment information night targeting the local Aboriginal community. A DVD, ‘Knowing Home’, which explored Aboriginal spiritual connection to land, was made by Vicki Clark (then Walker) from Vicki’s presentation.
A one-day event with Kutcha Edwards and Eva Jo Edwards was held specifically for people from non-English speaking countries. In our work we were constantly being told by these people that reconciliation was between the English and Aboriginal people. We have done some events aimed at getting all Australians to accept that reconciliation is the responsibility of all.
WFFR members were very involved in the organisation and presentation of a 2-day forum held at the Hawthorn Town Hall commemorating the 30th anniversary of the 1967 referendum. This project was initiated by the MMIGP and was supported by Reconciliation Eastern Metro (REM).
Creation of the Nangnak Garden,including plaques, garden and path with pavers. WFFR was responsible for the idea of the 2 new plaques and making them accessible via the path. We also organised the making of the plaques by 600 Whitehorse students mentored by 4 local Aboriginal artists.
The Whitehorse Long Walk. This was an idea provided by Trevor Pearce, the Manager of the Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place (MMIGP). WFFR were the main organisers in partnership with the MMIGP, Council and Police for this event.
