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B A R A N G
I N A U G U R A LBARANG BOARD A P P O I N T E D
J A W U N EMERGING LEADERS
NAIDOC WEEK
PREVENTION IS THE KEY
ISSUE 02
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CONTENTS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE FOR BARA BARANGBara Barang
Corporation Limited recently reached a significant milestone in
it’s history. Bara Barang is celebrating becoming an independent
and autonomous Aboriginal organisation – it is no longer a
subsidiary of Youth Connections.
Bara Barang, originally Koori Connect, came from humble
beginnings, with just one youth worker mentoring Aboriginal youth
through a program called Koori Café. Koori Café then grew to become
the Aboriginal unit of Youth Connections and was labelled Koori
Connect. Koori Connect continued to grow and expand it’s services
and is now known as Bara Barang. It provides cultural programs and
services, training and mentoring to engage Aboriginal people and
youth. Bara Barang has eight staff and is expected to expand in the
coming months.
The journey to become autonomous began in October 2013, with the
help of Jawun secondee, Richie Hadfield,
in education, training and employment. Bara Barang are excited
about the future and working together with all our community
organisations.
The new office will act as a hub for staff providing support in
schools across the Central Coast.
from Commonwealth bank of Australia (CBA). In January 2014, Bara
Barang became officially registered and as of the 1 June 2015 Bara
Barang became fully independent. Denise Markham, Bara Barang
Manager, says a big celebration is in order to celebrate the
milestone of becoming an independent incorporated Aboriginal
organisation. For the Aboriginal community it was always important
for Bara Barang to become a fully autonomous organisation, for
Aboriginal people to be empowered to make decisions for the
Aboriginal community and to support their needs. The vision for
Bara Barang in creating opportunity for young people through
education and culture is becoming easier to achieve now that they
have full control.
Bara Barang is expanding it’s operations into the Wyong Shire to
ensure a more comprehensive service across the Central Coast. This
will better position our youth to have a greater opportunity
NEWS
It’s no surprise that Dianne O’Brien, otherwise known as Aunty
Di, has been re-elected as Chair of Mingaletta by members of
Mingaletta Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation. The
dedication and commitment Aunty Di brings to Mingaletta has not
gone unrecognised by the Board. Aunty Di, along with the other
volunteers
AUNTY DI TAKES THE CHAIR AGAINof Mingaletta, strives to achieve
the vision to improve the health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people on the Central Coast. In addition to
this honour, she has also recently been nominated for the Board of
Barang.
Aunty Di, currently the Aboriginal Health Manager at Central
Coast Primary Care managing the Guri Wagir team, has over 25 years
of experience working in medical organisations. She was the first
female drug and alcohol worker at Wollongong Aboriginal Medical
Centre in the 1980’s and then spent nine years working at Gosford
Hospital. During this time she was part of the project for
recruiting medical practices into the PIP Close the Gap Program for
Aboriginal People.
Aunty Di’s years of experience working in medical organisations
has allowed her
to work closely with service providers to enable referrals and
support for members of Mingaletta. Mingaletta offers an extensive
list of services and programs for both families and individuals
including: health and wellbeing, cultural affirmation, everyday
skills and services, as well as referrals to family support,
psychologists, counsellors, legal aid, housing and emergency
support services. Most services are available to the broader
community.
Mingaletta also welcomes members of the public from
non-Indigenous backgrounds to drop in for a cuppa and get to know
the members.
For more information about Mingaletta, you can email
[email protected] or visit www.mingaletta.org.au
02NEWS
04FEATURES
07EDUCATION
10HERITAGE & CULTURE
BARANG REGIONAL ALLIANCE ESTABLISHED AND BOARD FORMEDThe Barang
Regional Alliance has now officially been established, with the
inaugural Board appointed.
Barang is a new Central Coast organisation aimed at empowering
the Aboriginal community of the Central Coast through a unified
voice.
Barang currently has six members – Darkinjung Local Aboriginal
Land Council, NAISDA Dance College, Bungree Aboriginal Association
Inc, Bara Barang Corporation Ltd, Mingaletta Aboriginal Corporation
and Ngaimpe Aboriginal Corporation (The Glen). The Board is
composed of a representative from each member organisation. The
inaugural Board members are Barry Duncan (DLALC), Kim Walker
(NAISDA), Brody Naden (Bungree), Andy Grauner (Bara Barang), Dianne
O’Brien (Mingaletta) and Janet McKinnon (The Glen). Sean Gordon,
CEO of Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council, has been appointed
as the Chairperson of the Board.
The word ‘Barang’ means ‘tomorrow’ in the Darkinjung language.
Chairperson, Sean Gordon said, “The organisation will work towards
creating community prosperity so that our young people have a
brighter future.”
Barang believes in Aboriginal-led responsibility and ensuring
accountability and transparency by all stakeholders. Barang members
will actively seek to learn from each other and support each other
to best meet the needs of the community and tackle the problems and
challenges the community faces.
Barang will lead the Empowered Communities initiative and NSW
Local Decision Making (LDM) initiative for the Central Coast
region. Amongst the new organisation’s first tasks will be
progressing the First Priorities Agreement under the Empowered
Communities reform and the development of an
Accord under the NSW LDM agenda. According to Sean Gordon, “This
gives the community an opportunity to make significant advances in
the next two to three years in a few key priority areas.’
To inform the development of the First Priorities Agreement and
the LDM Accord, a series of community workshops have recently been
held with the staff and clients or members of each of the Barang
member organisations. Empowered Communities Representitive Steve
Adams said, “These workshops gave a broad cross-section of the
community an opportunity to express their views on what community
priorities are on the Central Coast, the causes of those issues,
and to explore practical measures that could be taken to
successfully tackle those issues.’ In the coming months, these
ideas will be further developed by Barang.
The establishment of Barang marks an important milestone for the
Central Coast. ‘Much has been achieved to date and it is terrific
to see our community organisations working together and showing
leadership through Barang,” Sean said.
“We are now in a strong position to tackle some of the
challenges facing our community, such as in the areas of education,
employment, drugs and alcohol, and providing role models and
mentors for our young people.”
IMAGE ABOVE: DIANNE O’BRIEN
IMAGE ABOVE: THE NEW CEO OF BARA BARANG, ANDY GRAUNER
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By Aamer Fattah Executive Manager Insurance Risk Research,
Commonwealth Bank
During early 2014, I was fortunate to represent the Commonwealth
Bank on a Jawun skilled volunteering secondment with Darkinjung
Local Aboriginal Land Council (DLALC) in Watanobbi, on the NSW
Central Coast.
MY JAWUN EXPERIENCE
During the secondment, I applied my knowledge and business
skills to support several important initiatives. For example, I
worked closely with Sean and Steve on the Empowered Communities
initiative, including the Empowered Communities’ collaboration
agenda. This involved researching and developing comprehensive case
studies on several
local initiatives relevant to the Empowered Communities policy
topics, then sharing the case studies with the other Empowered
Communities regions to transfer important knowledge for policy
innovation.
Personally, one of the highlights of the secondment was the
induction week for new secondees, which included a study tour that
helped us appreciate the important work of Jawun’s partner
organisations on the Central Coast, including The Glen, NAISDA and
Mingaletta. We also visited several cultural sites and learned more
about the Indigenous history and cultures of the Central Coast
region.
Since my secondment ended in May last year, I’ve kept in touch
with my ‘Jawun’ on the Central Coast and also had the opportunity
to meet with new Jawun secondees, who have continued supporting
Empowered Communities, Barang and other important regional
initiatives.
I’ve also shared my Jawun secondment experience with many
colleagues at the Commonwealth Bank, my family and friends, to help
increase awareness of the inspiring work of the Barang
organisations and their people, who are working tirelessly to
address the challenges facing our Indigenous community on the
Central Coast and beyond.
While preparing for the secondment, I learned that ‘Jawun’ means
‘friend’ or ‘family’ in the Kuku Yalanji language and it was in
that spirit that I was graciously hosted for three months by
Jawun’s Nick Eakin and DLALC’s Sean Gordon, Steve Adams and their
dedicated team.
IMAGE ABOVE AND BELOW: COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA, JAWUN
SECONDEE, AAMER FATTAH
IMAGE: SEAN GORDON, NICK EAKIN, STEVE ADAMS AND THE 2015
EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
Jawun operates in eight regions around Australia. Select members
from these regions have been working together as part of Jawun’s
Emerging Leaders Program. The program aims to develop leadership
skills and assist the emerging leaders to drive change in their
communities. The ultimate aim is to have a matrix of Indigenous
leadership connected across generations and across regions.
For Melanie Herdman, a Yolngu woman from North East Arnhem Land,
fluent in Yolngu Matha and English, it all started when she began
working at Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation. “Through going
outside of the community, I got the confidence to talk up in front
of crowds and then I was able to go on and talk about things that
should be happening within my organisation and community,” says
Melanie, who initiated and implemented cultural awareness and
education within her organisation. “Our culture and language
exists, but it’s not being practiced within our organisations so I
wanted to be a part of the development of a cultural education
session where every so often we would talk about our cultural
protocols, our values, our kinship systems and our language.”
2015 JAWUN EMERGING LEADERS VISIT TO DARKINJUNG
Through a partnership between Miwatj Health and Jawun, Melanie
has had exposure to a number of secondees. She shared, “It opened
my mind on where I am now and where I want to be,” says Melanie,
who is the first of her community to visit the Central Coast. Jawun
Regional Director Louise Law, and Jawun General Manager Remote
Regions, Rose Manzini, recognised Melanie’s potential for the
Emerging Leaders Program and brought Melanie into the Jawun
family.
Jawun has operated in North East Arnhem Land since October 2012,
working progressively with a range of organisations and has more
recently assisted Melanie’s organisation. “Here I am, two trips
later. It’s been a journey for me, who would have known that I
would end up here in Wyong? From my family and community I think I
am the first person to come here, I never thought that I would be
talking to strangers.” Melanie’s passion comes from her love of her
community and the challenge of doing something that her community
can benefit from.
The theme of the 2015 Emerging Leaders Program is Active
Leadership for Innovative Change; Melanie noted, “I have
already
taken on a lot of things that I will be taking back into the
community to introduce and implement.” Melanie is a driven young
woman who aspires to become a CEO of Miwatj Health and for now the
program will give her the confidence to advocate and lead her
community to independence and fulfilling lives.
For many effective leaders, inspiration comes from a positive
influence in their life. Melanie talks about her uncles “My uncles
are an inspiration to me, I want to take on that journey and be
recognised like they are role models to our community.” Melanie
speaks passionately about predominant figures in her community
“They have been in the political environment, advocating for our
people and our rights and if it wasn’t for them we would of
probably have been stamped on by government.”
“I want to show them there are still young people who are going
to take on their voice and keep it strong,” says Melanie, who is
determined to carry on the voice of her family and community.
FEATURES
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NAIDOC WEEK ON THE CENTRAL COASTThe theme of NAIDOC Week 2015
was ‘We all Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect & Celebrate’
and the Central Coast community celebrated NAIDOC Week through a
range of events.
The theme highlights Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples’ strong spiritual and cultural connection to land and sea.
Part of the reason this theme was chosen was to highlight and
celebrate the anniversary of the ‘Handback’ of Uluru, one of these
sacred sites, to its traditional owners on 26 October 30 years ago.
The week gave the Aboriginal community
an opportunity to celebrate culture and achievements and come
together as a community, alongside the broader Central Coast
community.
The two main events were the Family Fun Day at Baker Park and
the Golf Day at Wyong Golf Course. The Family Fun Day featured a
netball competition, performances by Shannon Noll and Street
Warriors, rides, a dance performance by the residents of The Glen,
attendance by some NRL players, and many other activities.
Importantly, the support of the local business community was
integral to the success of these events. A range of businesses (see
below) supported the events. “We could not put on these events
without the assistance we receive from these organisations. It is
great to see them getting involved, and to see the number of people
attending the celebrations growing every year,” said Jodi Shannon,
Community Engagement Officer at Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land
Council.
FEATURES
NAISDA’s 2015 mid year show – Come we all Dance (Gayi Ngiyang
Nhangara in Darkinjung language) – was a deeply moving, energetic
and passionate production with the themes of equality and culture
woven throughout the show.
Audiences were mesmerised by the traditional songs and dances
from Moa Island in the Torres Strait, while contemporary works left
the audience in awe.
The show was also a reminder that Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander culture and heritage are part of the choreography and that
the land our feet rest upon is imperative to the expressions on
stage.
COME, WE ALL DANCEGAYI NGIYANG NHANGARA
Contemporary works were created in collaboration between guest
Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists and NAISDA Developing Artist
(DAs). In addition, a number of DAs choreographed and performed
their own works as well as creating music for the performances.
Choreography was inspired by various themes and moments in time
including: Medieval France, equilibrium (yin and yang), flashbacks
to young love before a loving husband passes, body image, DNA that
binds us together, closing the gap between Indigenous and
non-Indigenous peoples, change and making the right choices in
life, country music connecting young DAs to their family and home,
the relationship that women have with the sea (Meriam Mir language)
and cultural dances from Wug Village, Moa Island in theTorres
Strait Islands.
The mid year show was very successful with the majority of
performances booked two weeks prior to the event. VIP guests
attended the show including: Senator Deborah O’Neill, Anne
Charlton, Mr Adam Crouch MP, NAISDA Foundation Deputy Chairman
Nihal Gupta, NAISDA Legend - Ronne Arnold, numerous people within
the dance industry, Indigenous and Central Coast community and many
Developing Artists’ family members and homestay families.
In addition to the mid year show, NAISDA participated in other
NAIDOC celebrations and performed at the following events: the
Gosford City Council Flag Raising Ceremony in Kibble Park and the
Nunyara Aboriginal Health NAIDOC event.
NAISDA is also looking for tomorrow’s Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander artists and will be auditioning for Developing
Artists from 30 November to 4 December for those seeking to
commence study in 2016. However, Audition applications will close
on the 10 September 2015.
Abstudy can assist eligible participants with their travel and
accommodation costs.
For more information download the NAISDA Audition Pack at
www.naisda.com.au or phone 1800 117 116.
IMAGE: NAISDA DEVELOPING ARTISTS PERFORMING IN THE MID YEAR
SHOW
EDUCATION
LOCATION BAKER PARK, WYONGDATE WEDNESDAY 8TH JULY 2015TIME 9AM -
3PMCONTACT PLEASE CONTACT DARKINJUNG ON (02) 4351 2930 OR
[email protected] FOR REGISTRATION FORMS FOR NETBALL OR IF
YOU REQUIRE MORE INFORMATION.
NAIDOC FAMILY FUN DAY
NETBALL COMP • KINDI FARM • KIDDIES CORNER • COMMANDO KIDS SNOW
CONES • FAIRY FLOSS • RAFFLES • SAUSAGE SIZZLE
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
TONY SIMPSON & CO. LAW FIRM
IMAGE: NGAIMPE CULTURAL DANCERS PERFORMING AT THE WYONG NAIDOC
FAMILY FUN DAY
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A recent report by Amnesty International revealed Australia’s
Aboriginal youth are more likely to be incarcerated today than in
the 20 years since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in
Custody.
The report titled ‘A brighter tomorrow: Keeping Indigenous kids
in the community and out of detention in Australia’ has found that
the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
children in incarceration is increasing. Studies show that whilst
Aboriginal children make up less than 6% of the total population of
youth under the age of 17 years old, they make up 59% of youth in
detention.
The internationally acceptable minimum age of criminal
responsibility across the world is 12 years old. In Australia,
Aboriginal children are held criminally responsible from as young
as just 10 years old. This raises concerns for the future of our
youth.
Amnesty International proposes that the Australian Government
can create a brighter future for Aboriginal youth by assisting
communities to support their youth. They recommend that Australia
dedicate resources to address the social and economic factors
underpinning Aboriginal contact with the criminal justice system.
It is more cost effective to invest in communities than prisons; in
Australia it costs $440,000 per year to detain a child.
BRIGHTER FUTURES FOR OUR ABORIGINAL YOUTH “Australia must seize
this once in a generation chance to keep Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander children out of prison and make communities safer,”
said Salil Shetty Secretary- General of Amnesty.
Aboriginal leaders and community organisations such as Bara
Barang have been working to help the justice system authorities
understand that more needs to be done to address underlying factors
that contribute to youth in detention. Locally designed early
intervention, prevention and diversion programs and identification
of emerging mentors are key strategies.
For example, the Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre has
invited Gavi Duncan, Indigenous Cultural Advisor for Bara Barang,
to attend Juvenile Justice meetings. The meetings are a positive
step towards finding new ways of preventing Aboriginal youth re
offending when they leave incarceration and return to their
communities. Through the NSW State initiative Our journey, our
future, a detainee program is being implemented to encourage youth
to begin goal setting sessions with a councillor in the early
stages of their detainment.
“We run programs to assist in healing practices and alternative
learning. We introduce Aboriginal youth to their culture to help
improve their confidence and look
at how they can change their ways and assist them when they are
released. Our programs are about cultural affirmation; about
connecting kids to their culture to help them and their own healing
journey toward a better life,” says Mr Duncan.
Bara Barang will be running activities based around cultural
learning. “Cultural learning can have an influence on their choices
and what they do later in life. Growing up with this knowledge can
help them to become a better person, instead of going back into
their community and re-offending. It is important to make them
realise there is more to life than that. Our aim is to strengthen
their inner self” says Mr Duncan.
Another hurdle to overcome is the limited accommodation
available for youth on bail. “This means that the kids who don’t
want to go back to their old circles and slip into old habits do
not have a lot of options but to go back to their circle of friends
and run the risk of reoffending,” explained Mr Duncan.
Bara Barang aims to help give these Aboriginal youth choices
through education and training opportunities and build a deep
cultural connection. Bara Barang is an Aboriginal corporation on
the Central Coast providing innovative programs, events, training
and services to engage Aboriginal people and youth.
EDUCATION
Management and staff at The Glen are thinking innovatively when
it comes to tackling drug and alcohol addiction within the
community. They know that unless they get a message to young people
before they start to get involved with drugs and alcohol, the
number of young adults facing addiction and incarceration will only
continue to grow. The Glen is determined to try and take some
preventative action now.
The Glen has been reaching out to local schools and PCYC centres
on the Central Coast and in the Hunter Valley to educate young
people about the effect of drugs and alcohol on their lives in
order to help them make more informed decisions about their
futures.
Local case workers and youth at the PCYC were invited to attend
The Glen to meet with the residents and listen to their stories
about how they ended up where they are. The Glen has also begun
building relationships with a local high school for disengaged
students: ET Australia Secondary College. The Glen ‘boys’ have gone
into the school to give talks about the effects of the drug ice,
which is a major problem on the Central Coast
PREVENTION IS THE KEYright now. The discussions are aimed at
young people who have been in trouble for offending or are at risk
of offending, as well as children who have family issues and low
school attendance.
“We took the kids down to have a meeting and a chat on the
effects of drugs and alcohol. Some of the residents [of The Glen]
gave a run down on their history and conveyed real life messages to
the young ones and then we all had some food together,” Senior
Constable Lorraine Upward shares. The kids involved were able to
relate to the stories. Senior Constable Upward explained that kids
“found the experience to be an inspiration of what not to do so
they can take advice early, rather than getting into that
situation.” Chris Mundey, Student Development Coordinator said,
“There were five blokes who shared their stories with us which was
raw, confronting and a very meaningful summit for the kids.”
Senior Constable Upward says that the talk at The Glen was very
beneficial for the kids and that the talks by the residents covered
every aspect relevant to young kids at risk. The Glen has invited
the PCYC kids back to do a ‘Touch Talk Eat’, which
is a monthly event where the residents get together to play a
game of touch football, listen to a speaker and enjoy some good
food. The kids are very much looking forward to being part of that.
For the kids at ET Australia Secondary College, Chris Mundey said
“It worked a treat. It was relevant for our kids and made them
think twice about the decisions they are making. From that one
session alone we have already had kids approach us asking for
help.”
With the first session being a success, The Glen will continue
to hold these talk sessions with the local PCYC as well as local
schools. Student Development Coordinator Chris Mundey, who has
years of experience in working with disengaged kids, says that he
believes these talks should be happening in all schools.
CEO of The Glen, Joe Coyte, says, “It is better getting them now
than picking them up when they fall. In saying that we do
understand that sometimes humans make mistakes and when this
happens places like The Glen will be there.”
Lachlan Champley, grandson of Mingaletta Elder Aunty Fay and
former Mingaletta Didge Group participant, was given the honour of
joining the NSW State of Origin players and their support team of
managers, trainers, physiotherapists and medics on their recent
visit to the MCG for the game against Queensland.
Through his commitment to sport and education fifteen-year-old
Lachlan was granted an Indigenous scholarship to attend the elite
St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill. Lachlan takes his education
seriously and has already started thinking about work experience
that will assist him
STATE OF ORIGIN WORK EXPERIENCE FOR FORMER DIDGE STUDENT
in his future career. “I love sport and I am achieving a high
standard in science so Sports Science is something I’d like to do,”
said Lachlan. The ambitious student asked his dad, Mark Champley,
who has contacts in the sports industry, if he could help him find
some work experience. He hit the jackpot when he got a call
inviting him to take part in this amazing opportunity to work with
the NSW State of Origin support team.
Lachlan shares his gratitude for this once in a lifetime
experience and explains that the players were very friendly and
welcoming. “It was a very good experience
and something that I will never forget,” said Lachlan, who no
doubt will go on to do great things in both his schooling and
future career.
IMAGE: LACHLAN CHAMPLEY WITH NSW BLUES COACHING STAFF
IMAGE: NGAIMPE RESIDENTS AT THE GLEN
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“If we keep hearing that, we know our job is done” says Allan,
who along with the team at Bungree will continue to organise social
support for clients so they can enjoy an active and interesting
social life.
For more information contact Allan Beale on 02 4350 0100.
HERITAGE & CULTURE
For Sharon Hodgetts, Culture and Heritage Officer at Darkinjung
Local Aboriginal Land Council (DLALC), part of her role involves
investigating whether there is Aboriginal culture and heritage
present at development sites, and if so, ensuring the sites are
protected and managed. Sharon’s experience through conducting these
assessments has led her and her team to begin advocating for reform
of the planning and development system to improve the protection of
Aboriginal culture and heritage in development.
DLALC is currently in discussions with a number of government
departments following the discovery of a development at Booker Bay
that has been built over what is believed to be an Aboriginal
burial site. Prior to the development, the land was identified as
being of Aboriginal heritage significance by DLALC and
archaeologists. Development consent was conditional on an
Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit (AHIP) being issued by the Office
of Environment & Heritage. According to Sharon, “It got left at
that and we didn’t hear anything for a couple of years until one
day I was out with my family and noticed a house had been built on
the land so I took photos and reported it.”
An AHIP was never issued and it is unclear how the work on the
property was able to proceed without proper consideration of
Aboriginal culture and heritage issues. “We are very concerned with
the shortfalls of the council’s process,” says Lynne Hamilton,
Planning and Development Manager. Lynne explains that the
experience at this site at Booker Bay demonstrates some of the
deficiencies of the planning and development processes in
protecting Aboriginal culture and heritage. One area of concern is
the fact that Complying Developments can proceed with little
consideration of Aboriginal culture and heritage. A further area of
concern is the fact that Council planning maps make no reference to
an area’s sensitivity to Aboriginal culture and heritage. This is
highly problematic for an area such as the Central Coast that is
rich in Aboriginal culture and heritage.
“It’s a worry for me to know that there are places that I have
seen and picked up on because I know what was going on there, but
how many other places has this happened to that we don’t know
about?”, Sharon wonders. The team at DLALC know of two other
culturally sensitive sites that have been destroyed at Somersby.
They are actively engaging with relevant Departments and Ministers
in order to address the shortfalls in the current planning
process.
DARKINJUNG FIGHTS TO PROTECT CULTURE AND HERITAGE
“Our ultimate solution would be to identify and map these sites
and make them part of a culturally sensitive area as part of
Council’s zoning requirements, just like bushfire and flood zoning,
with low sensitivity and high sensitivity. We would like to see
areas of high sensitivity require a full archaeological survey to
be completed. DLALC would like there to be involvement and
discussion with the Aboriginal community and the stakeholders
before development occurs,” Lynne explains.
Such an approach would also mean that recognised sites of
Aboriginal cultural or heritage significance are not viewed and
managed in isolation, but rather are treated holistically.
“Aboriginal sites are being destroyed and the associated cultural
landscape and dreaming stories fragmented without the understanding
of what our stories mean,” Sharon explains. “Part of our story has
been lost which has disenfranchised us.” Having an Aboriginal
culture and heritage overlay in the planning system would ensure
that connections between neighbouring registered sites and
potential sites that have not yet been registered would be better
maintained, resulting in stronger protection of Aboriginal culture
and heritage.
Darkinjung will continue to engage in discussions with relevant
stakeholders to achieve appropriate levels of protection for
Aboriginal culture and heritage on the Central Coast. “We see this
role of working closely with all associated bodies - OEH, National
Parks, Local Councils – and advocating for reform as a growing area
in our culture and heritage team. It is so important that our
cultural sites are protected,” Lynne explains.
ELDERS CONNECTING COMMUNITIESAn important program delivered by
Bungree Aboriginal Association is ‘social support’. This program is
primarily directed towards assisting the needs of Aboriginal people
on the Central Coast by engaging and participating in community
life. The program is co-ordinated by Allan Beale at Bungree.
As part of a series of regular outings for social support
clients, Bungree set out on Wednesday 24 June on a road trip to
visit the Karuah community north of Newcastle. Several Jawun
secondees working in local Aboriginal organisations also
attended.
Upon arrival at the Karuah community hall, a welcome to country
was done by Joanna Simms, a Karuah elder, followed by morning
tea.
Karuah local Vanessa Saunders has opened Mission Chew, a
country-style café located in the community hall on Mustons Road
across from the Karuah Local Aboriginal Land Council. The ladies of
Mission Chew opened the café with the help of the Red Cross to
combat the growing concern of food insecurity within the community.
Funds raised from the café will go to Aboriginal women and children
of Karuah.
“Thank you for taking us, it was a great day” was what Bungree’s
clients were saying to the staff.
After morning tea, it was back on the bus, accompanied by local
community elder Uncle Hector who acted as a guide through Karuah
Country. Uncle Hector pointed out many culturally significant sites
in the area and shared his knowledge of the history of Karuah.
The bus made a surprise stop at Tahlee, a historic property on
the shores of Port Stephens and site of the first operations of the
Australian Agricultural Company. Home to the Worimi people, the
word Tahlee comes from the Aboriginal word Tarlee meaning
‘sheltered from the wind and above water’. Tahlee is now the
current location for Tahlee Bible College. The group enjoyed a tour
of the former Greta theatre that was relocated to the Tahlee site
then spent some time soaking up the beautiful scenic views.
On arrival back at Mission Chew, the group enjoyed a sumptuous
lunch, including delicious fish and chips, thanks to the fishing
talents of Vanessa’s son who caught the fresh local fish. Many of
the visitors declared it the tastiest fish and chips they had ever
had! After lunch, it was time to gratefully thank the ladies of
Mission Chew for lunch and start the journey back to the Central
Coast.
IMAGE: ATTENDEES ON THE BUNGREE DAY TRIP TO KARUAH
IMAGE ABOVE: WONDABYNE PATONGA SURVEY
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BARA BARANG
Address: Green Central Gate 1 - Kangoo Rd, Kariong NSW 2250
Phone: (02) 4346 1152
Fax: (02) 4346 1192
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Web: www.barabarang.com.au
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Phone: (02) 4340 3100
Fax: (02) 4340 3160
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MINGALETTA
Address: 6 Sydney Avenue Umina NSW 2257
Phone: (02) 4342 7515
Fax: (02) 4341 9254
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DARKINJUNG
Address: 168 Pacific Hwy Watanobbi NSW 2259
Phone: (02) 4351 2930
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Phone: (02) 4350 0100
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Web: www.bungree.org.au
