Moving closer to reconciliation - The Fourth Annual Ningulabul Reconciliation Lunch
6 June 2008
More than 50 guests attended the Fourth Annual Ningulabul Reconciliation Lunch at the Gunung-Willam-Balluk Indigenous Education Centre on Friday May 30.
The event, which was co-hosted by the City of Hume, formed part of Kangan Batman TAFE's Reconciliation Week celebrations and featured a keynote speech by former Victorian Premier John Cain and a performance by the One Fire Dance Troupe.
Former Kangan Batman TAFE director John Parish was also recognised for his contribution to reconciliation and his central role in the development of the Gunung-Willam-Balluk IEC with the Terry Kildea Boonde-Mak-Balletak award.
National Reconciliation Week is a time for all communities to join the reconciliation conversation and think about how we can help turn around the disadvantage experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Mr Cain addressed the gathering, drawing on his personal experiences to highlight the need for continued national efforts on the road to reconciliation.
'I deem it an honour to be asked to come here and speak about reconciliation. In about 35 to 40 years, the landscape has changed dramatically. Slow as we were to begin, in the great scheme of history, it really has been a much improved performance,' he said.
'Not only has the law, status and recognition of aboriginal people changed, but so to has the community response to issues.
But Mr Cain said that it's simply not enough to just change things in material ways.
'Change has to spill over to attitudes in mutual respect, trust and in making and honouring commitments, because too often governments are perceived to make promises they don't keep and acknowledge the wrongs that have gone on before,' he said.
'Until you do that, you don't deliver on those commitments. Reconciliation is an opportunity for all of us to acknowledge and accept that it is starting. We all have a job to see that it doesn't stop because it can be arrested unless we all make that commitment and see that it is maintained.'
Gunung-Willam-Balluk Indigenous Education Centre manager Terry Kildea also addressed the event and presented Mr Parish with the Terry Kildea Boonde-Mak-Balletak award which recognises Institute staff members who have demonstrated a particular commitment to Indigenous education. Terry paid tribute to Mr Parish's legacy at the Institute.
'By establishing the Gunung-Willam-Balluk IEC, John committed himself and Kangan Batman TAFE to a partnership with the local Indigenous community,' Terry said.
'If reconciliation is about fostering improved cooperation and understanding between indigenous peoples and the wider community, if it's about developing partnerships and common goals, and if it's about working together with mutual respect and understanding how to resolve differences and overcome obstacles and setbacks, then John has achieved them all.
'We acknowledge that during his leadership, the Koori Programs Unit became an Institute priority in 2002 and has remained so to the present day. John had the courage to stick his chin out and take a shot for reconciliation.'
Named as a tribute to the first recorded Gunung-Willam Balluk Elder, Ningulabul, the luncheon reinforced Kangan Batman TAFE's commitment to developing and maintaining strong relationships with the Indigenous community.
The Ningulabul Reconciliation Luncheon was also proudly supported by the Hume City Council, the Department of Sustainability and Environment and the Broadmeadows Magistrate's Court.
For more information please contact Gunung-Willam-Balluk Indigenous Education Centre teacher Linc Yow Yeh on 9279 2287.
