Councillors Snub Wreck Bay on its 25th Anniversary of Aboriginal Land Grant (Jervis Bay Territory) Act 1986

Image courtesy of Australian Birdlife Photo Library
http://www.birdphotos.com.au/White%20bellied%20Sea%20Eagle/slides/BF8C7941%20copy.html

Thursday 8 March is significant for many as International Women's Day- but here in Shoalhaven on the 8th March we should stop and celebrate the significant granting of land back to the Aboriginal People of Wreck Bay known as the Aboriginal Land Grant (Jervis Bay Territory) Act 1986 or locally and internationally know as Booderee National Park and surrounds.

I'm no expert on this issue and can only offer my comments on what Ive learned along the way.

The land grant was given in 1986 - a time of slightly more progressive politics than those experienced under John Howard. ATSIC had yet to be created and  Bob Hawke was Prime Minister of Australia- It was still six years away from Paul Keatings famous Redfern Speech. Personally I had only been in the Country for 4 years and had no idea of the struggles and oppression of Aboriginal people- Australia's Black History certainly wasn't being taught in high school back then.

Later on in life I took a keen interest in Aboriginal history reading Blood on the Wattle, Henry Reynolds, Oodgeroo and a swag of other titles that in many ways changed my life as I was completely and utterly challenged by the injustices and inequalities that had been dealt out to the original occupants of the land.

My first introduction to Booderee was through my interest in Australian plants and an excursion with my Landcare nursery companions to the nursery facility at Booderee-we were guided on the bush tucker walk and given some explanations of the plants and animals around us- I still didn't grasp the importance on what was going there.

It wasn't until I met Auntie Julie Freeman which was organised by Jenny Tillet my university tutor that the stars lined up and I had the aha moment and realised the historic importance around a) the campaign to achieve the land claim and b) the claim granting itself. I felt privileged to be there- listening to Auntie Julies emotional story and wondered at the resilience of Aboriginal people-the ability to push through the personal traumas and work together to achieve the terrific outcome that is Booderee today.The land management of the park in Aboriginal hands is a part of a broader study on Indigenous knowledge and land management practices world wide and my understanding of that is Booderee is a first class operation.

So with that little amount of knowledge when the Mayor Paul Green's secretary asked if I would like to attend the celebration of 25yrs I leapt at the chance and cancelled all other diary entries ( I was supposed to be receiving an International Women's Day Award). In my mind nothing is more important than standing shoulder to shoulder with our community in recognising this significant milestone and as a member of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee it would be poor form if Shoalhaven City Council was not represented.

I was surprised  that the Mayor couldn't organise to spend the morning away from State Parliament to give the people of Wreck Bay the recognition they deserve and at the time of writing Cl Andrew Guile hadn't bothered to respond to the request as deputy mayor. In the pecking order of Council these two fellas think I rank at the very bottom! Hopefully the community will at least know that I understand and value the occasion even though I don't carry a high title of office- I carry in my heart empathy, compassion and a little understanding of the past injustices