Aboriginal Advisory Committee of to a great start.

After a three year break Shoalhaven Council's Aboriginal Advisory Committee reconvened for the first time.

To me it was an important occasion, and a privilege to be part off.

Our region has a high percentage of Aboriginal people, who come from diverse backgrounds and recognise different clan groups, the committee should be an important link from Council to the Aboriginal Community.

Business addressed by this gathering included rewriting of the committee guidelines to reflect the spirit of a revised group. The development of Aboriginal Cultural Protocols for use by Councillors and Staff. Renaming and reaffirming of the Aboriginal Employment Strategy, offer of Support for NAIDOC art week and flag raising protocol.

The minutes of the last meeting held (in May 2006) were presented to the meeting, and I was surprised to find the item of business that recommended an acknowledgement to traditional owners be included in every ordinary meeting- this had never been acted upon and I was able to have it reintroduced as an item of business.

Our Aboriginal members stayed after the meeting to discuss issues and to bring forward some words for the acknowledgement. I hope they will join us at the next ordinary meeting that will ratify the recommendations from the committee.

During my 13 years on the coast, I have at times been disgusted with the level of racism shown towards Aboriginal people and a general lack of or will to understand culture and community. I hold high hopes that as a leading organisation within the community Council can show true leadership in regards to cultural and social change.

I asked the question : Could Council request that its large infrastructure contracts ( i,e, around $1Mill) demand an Aboriginal employment portion of 5%- maybe one day this could be a reality !