Author Rekaya Gibson is grateful for her writing life...

It’s my pleasure to welcome back to my blog author and foodie Rekaya Gibson. Today she is

offering readers an insight into the five things she is grateful for in terms of her writing.

Rekaya says: 

1. I am grateful for the fountain pen - the instrument that started it all. In addition, it is the currentselection for my first tattoo and the beginning of my midlife crisis.
2. I am grateful for my ears. They allow me to hear some awesome book ideas. Now, I have over eight novels stored in my brain.  
3. I am grateful for night time. I am a nocturnal writer, so my creativity and productivity increase when the sun goes down. It doubles after midnight. I have considered moving to Alaska, but I do not function well in the cold.
4. I am grateful for e-Readers – the actual devices and those who love them. Last month alone, my latest novel, Mama Don’t Like Ugly  was downloaded 365 times on Amazon Kindle. Thank you everyone!
5. I am grateful for my journey. Though rocky at times, I would not change a thing.  Every day is a special occasion and I am using the good china! 

 
 

PAINT THE WORLD GREEN with Riverbend Books!

Media release:  

PAINT THE WORLD GREEN

Independent bookstore, Riverbend Books, want to do their part to help preserve our environment.

In late August the renowned Bulimba bookstore will be hosting a unique art auction called ‘Paint the World Green’. The community will have the opportunity to bid on paintings created by high-profile people of different backgrounds and occupations, including authors, artists, musicians, and journalists.

Special artworks have been created by environmental activist and scientist David Suzuki, children’s author and illustrator Mem Fox, ‘Mao’s Last Dancer’ Li Cunxin, rugby legend Darren Lockyer, country music singer, Troy Cassar-Daley, as well as artists Lance Bressow, Ralph Wilson, and many more.

Each contribution reveals a surprising interpretation of the rainforest, and its place in our world. All proceeds from the paintings will help preserve the integrity and rich biodiversity of the forests through donations to Greenpeace Australia Pacific and Profauna Indonesia.

Riverbend Books believes the event will not only raise monetary support but will also foster positive and constructive discussion about the forest and climate change. “My time spent volunteering in East Java has taught me everything we do to help, however small it may seem, is making a huge difference on a grassroots level,” says Alice Coates, the event organiser and an avid supporter of animal rights.

“I am so grateful to all my supporters, not just the contributors, but also Riverbend Books and Hoopla Family Advertising. ‘Paint the World Green’ will be held on the 31st of August and entry will be a gold coin donation. Doors open at 6pm. The full list of contributors will be displayed on the Riverbend website over the coming weeks, with a sneak peek at some of the artworks.

ABOUT - Riverbend Books opened its doors in 1998 and over the past thirteen years has very much enjoyed being part of the local community. They have won Queensland Bookstore of the Year seven times and Australian Bookstore of the Year twice. Keen to encourage a culture of reading in the local and wider community, they run an extensive program of author events, workshops, bookclubs and bookchats. Riverbend is also the founding bookshop of The Indigenous Literacy Foundation, which is now a national project of the Australian book industry.

- END -

CONTACT: Bronte or Suzy
Riverbend Books
07 3899 8555
info@riverbendbooks.com.au

Five ‘C’ words I am grateful for ...

CAFE - the pilot: On July 29, a dream came true for me when we filmed the pilot of my TV chat show, ‘CAFE’. Produced by Clear Content for NITV, I was thrilled to be surrounded by close family and friends in the very intimate setting of the Cruise Bar at Circular Quay in Sydney. I am grateful not only to those who came to cheer me on, but also my very, very special guests including the deadly co-captain of the Sydney Swans, Adam Goodes (pictured above), who entertained us all no end. Also blessing me with their presence was the dynamic musical duo Microwave Jenny, and the Godfather of Hip Hop Munkimuk. I’m also grateful to my side-chick Sharnee Fenwick and to my brother Mark who acted as roving reporting doing vox pops at the Sydney Bay Oyster Bar. Seriously, I couldn’t have asked for a better line-up to make the pilot. Now we’re in post-production so I’ll let you all know when it goes to air... until then I have finger, legs and everything else-crossed, hoping that the show goes into full production.

CHAISE LONGUE: I like the French term ‘chaise longue’ - no it’s not a typo – because let’s face it, saying ‘Come join me on the chaise longue’ sounds much sexier than saying ‘Come join me on the couch!’ I was grateful for my chaise longue conversations on Cafe!

CHEMISTRY: Not the science chemistry, but the term used to describe that ‘special feeling’ between two people that simply fancy each other. Or as my character Libby Cutmore so eloquently put it in Paris Dreaming: ‘I knew it was chemistry. I could feel the love drugs rushing through my body: the pleasure chemical dopamine gave that blissful feeling and norepinephrine was causing my heart to race... I was excited about being physically close to Ames and was ready to get high on the cocktails swirling through my body...’

CUDDLES: The perfect Sunday activity on the chaise or the couch or wherever you can get them. I’m especially grateful for cuddles from my nephews.

CHOCOLATE: No surprises there! I am always grateful for chocolate and with a birthday approaching I know the pantry is likely to be chockers (sorry for pun) in the near future!

What ‘C’ words are you grateful for today???

B words I am grateful for today...

Pic by Jeff Busby

 BANGARRA: I’ve been going to Bangarra Dance Theatre  performances since their first production at the Seymour Centre back in 1993 when Praying Mantis Dreaming  first premiered. Over the years I have continued to be inspired by the international dance company’s ability to tell cultural, historical and political stories through dance. Some of my favourites include Ochres (1995), Walkabout (2002) and Clan (2004) which included a tribute to David Unaipon, the writer and inventor who features on the Australian $50 note. Of course my bias shows through with the writerly aspect, but it was I really loved the way in which Francis Rings choreographed the work in terms of the inventor’s theory of perpetual motion.

Most recently, I attended opening night of Bangarra’s latest offering, Belong, which tells stories about and identity (both community and individual). I found the performance affirming, uplifting, at times elegant and then chilling.

I am grateful for Bangarra for providing a cultural event that brings a cross section of the Australian community together to celebrate our stories through dance.  On opening night at the Sydney Opera House I saw artists and academics, politicians and public services, parents and their children, blackfellas and whitefellas, all united in their love for dance, Indigenous culture and a desire to understand the diversity and evolution of Australian identity over time and place (including Wiradjuri!).

Congratulations to Stephen Page and Elma Kris on another major achievement in Australian Aboriginal cultural expression that offers something to everyone.

BEN: I’m grateful to me nephew Ben. He turns 13 this week and last night we had a pizza picnic in my lounge room. We watched Alice in Wonderland – the original (yet enhanced) edition and had lots of laughs as we snuggled under a blanket with all the goodies one would have at the cinema. I’m now going to be the annoying Aunty who will want to do this more often...

BLESSED: Every day I realise how fortunate I am on every level of life. I have more than enough love, laughter, affection, time with family and friends. Breathing the warmer than usual winter air today after coffee with an old friend, I smiled to myself knowing how incredibly blessed I am.

BOOKSELLERS (INDY): I’m grateful the Independent Booksellers in Australia that provide exceptional service to me, not only as an author, but as a reader when I go into their store  and need help finding a title. Especially if I want advice on a genre or a subject. Some of my favourite Indy’s include Gleebooks  and Better Read Than Dead  (Sydney), Avid Reader and Riverbend Books (Brisbane), Fullers (Tasmania), Paperchain (Canberra) and Readings (Melbourne).

Do you have a favourite bookstore, please let me know....?

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE:  I am grateful for the beautiful people in my life. I don’t mean cosmetic beauty (because I have met some very physically attractive people who are very ugly on the inside). I mean beautiful spirited people. Those who are generous with their time and affection. I’m grateful that I a surrounded by such wonderful souls every day.

'A' words I’m grateful for today ...

AMBASSADORS: I’m grateful to be just one of many authors and musos who act as Ambassadors to help raise awareness and funds to send books to Indigenous kids in remote communities. Our work through the Indigenous Literacy Foundation attempts to make real life changes to some of you most disadvantaged.  You can help too by organising an event on Indigenous Literacy Day, September 7. To see what we do, check out this short video... and please share. Thank you!

ANIMALS: Ummm, okay, truth be known, I’m not a big animal lover, BUT I do like CHOCOLATE  animals like Caramello Koalasand Freddo Frogs  (strawberry or mint flavour).

AMAZING: It describes sitting at Bennelong Point at midday with the sun streaming down on the most stunning harbour in  the world. Yes, I know I am biased. But I challenge anyone to sit at the Opera Bar and not feel the same way.

ANGELS: I have a few, they watch over me, protect me, keep me safe, and to some degree, keep me sane. Do you have angels too?

AMOROUS: There’s nothing better than expression of love. Hope you have some every day... :)

I’m grateful for the Marramarra Indigenous Arts Showcase...

Only July 12 I had the privilege of launching the Marramarra Indigenous Arts Showcase at the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre. I was incredibly proud and happy to be home on Wiradjuri country at the invitation of the Bathurst Wiradjuri elders group.

Marramarra is our language word for ‘make, create, do’ – and we have a long history of cultural producers who have made, created and done and now we have even more who are doing! Congratulations to Arts OutWest, the Central West Aboriginal Arts Development Steering Committee and all the workshop participants and leaders that created the Marramarra Showcase.

Today’s blog is about paying tribute to those who keep culture and heritage alive in Wiradjuri country. The pic above is of the combined efforts of Cowra and Condo kids. The pic below is of the talented Bathurst girls from the Aboriginal Performing Arts Program.

1. WIRADJURI ARTISTS: As I flew to Bathurst, I took the time to reflect on just a few of the Wiradjuri artists I am grateful for and who we should celebrate with pride. We have notable writers including the late Kevin Gilbert and Joy Williams. We also have recent inspiration from Uncle Stan Grant and the multi-award winning young author, Tara June Winch.

Poets John Muk Muk Burke, Kerry Reed-Gilbert, Elizabeth Hodgson and Brenda Saunders come from the Wiradjuri nation, as well as visual artists whose work is known internationally, including the late Michael Riley and Harry J Wedge (who was at the Marramarra showcase also). I’ve personally gained motivation from illustrators like Aunty Isabelle Coe and another of my favourite visual artists as mentioned in my latest book Paris Dreaming, is Uncle Roy Kennedy.

Wiradjuri country has also produced dancers like Rayma Johnson, performance group the Wiradjuri Echoes and filmmaker Sally Riley.

2.COOL KOORI KIDS: Students who performed, showcased and shared as part of the Marramarra showcase came from across the region: Bathurst, Cowra, Lake Cargelligo, Peak Hill, Wellington, Orange and so on. Alongside visual artists exhibited on the day, they demonstrated the enormous talent and creativity we have as a people, and the ongoing culture and heritage that is being Wiradjuri today. Pic above of the Cowra High School Wagambirra Dance Group (plus a fabulous Japanese Exchange student Kyohei. Pic below is of Bruce Carr from Wellington.

4. KERRIANNE COX: It was a bonus surprise to see my deadly sister Kerrianne Cox at the launch Marramarra. KC and I first met at a Kungka Careers Conference at Yulara in 1998, and her soothing sounds were as spiritually moving then as they are now. Pic below of Kerrianne and I. Check out her website and do yourself a favour and get hold of her CD!

5. ELDERS: A highlight of the day was meeting and connecting with Wiradjuri elders, especially Aunty Wynne Allen. My Mum wore Aunty Wynne’s veil when she married my father at St Vincent’s Church, Redfern in 1960.

5. JOSH SIMPSON: Finally, while I’d read the work of performance poet Josh Simpson before, I’d never seen him in action. Josh opened the showcase with a poem and also gave a moving performance about the Wiradjuri Warrior, Windradyne. I am grateful for much at the launch of Marramarra, especially the opportunity to experience Josh’s words come to life on stage. The pic above is of Josh and I, and below, courtesy of Josh, is a copy of his poem ‘Windradyne’.

WINDRADYNE

More than 200 years ago,

Lived a Wiradjuri Warrior named Windradyne.

He became well known to the settlers as,

One of the fiercest of his times.

He lived around the Bathurst area,

Beside the river, along the plains.

And he'd freely seek out shelter in scrubland,

To get out of all the rains.

When the white settlers crossed the mountains,

And invaded Wiradjuri lands.

Windradyne and his people could do little to stop them,

They had thunder sticks in their hands.

But like anyone would Windradyne resisted the invasion,

So the whites declared Martial Law.

They placed a price on Windradyne,

And were out to kill any Koorie that they saw.

But they never killed old Windradyne,

He was cunning and too sly.

He led ambush attacks on the white settlers,

He caught them by surprise.

He was given the name Saturday by the whites,

Because that's when he'd attack.

He was known as a Chief, Leader and Warrior,

Of all the Wiradjuri blacks.

Joshua Simpson

2004

©

WHY I’M GRATEFUL FOR NAIDOC WEEK 2011

   

The pic above is of a student from Sandon Public School Armidale, who I had great pleasure in giving a copy of Yirra and her deadly dog, Demon.

NAIDOC Week for me means community engagement, acknowledging individual and communal achievement, celebrating culture and pride in identity. NAIDOC Week is a time for focusing on all that is good about Indigenous Australia and what we contribute to society every day of the week, 24/7, 52 weeks of the year.

There is much work to be done to ensure that we have equality with other Australians and that is not forgotten during NAIDOC Week, but it is also important to remind ourselves of where have come from and what we have managed even in the face of often unfathomable adversity.

NAIDOC Week this year provided me with stark reminders of all that should be showcased and shared in the Indigenous community, and below are just a few of the highlights I am grateful for:

1. SANDON PUBLIC SCHOOL ARMIDALE:  I am grateful for the opportunity to return to Armidale to kick off NAIDOC Week at Sandon Public School. Watching the Indigenous leaders of the primary school conduct a flag raising ceremony with the youngest Koori students was heart warming. Sitting in the audience with parents and family members as the school’s Indigenous student body (pic above) performed the story of Warnayarra- the rainbow snake  brought tears to my eyes. Working with the students in the library who wrote raps, short stories and poetry on Aboriginal Australia, inspired me as a writer and a reader. (pic below with workshop students) And that my friends is what NAIDOC Week is about for me. 

2. EVENINGS ON 702 ABC:  I am grateful for the opportunity to step in for Robbie Buck on the Evenings program on 702 ABC local, acting as a wannabe presenter from 7-10pm Monday – Thursday nights. It was as much of a challenge as it was a wonderful chance to have an injection of Indigenous commentary and content on the program. I am grateful to all those listeners who called in and participated in Norman-the-Quiz and occasionally let us know whose Aboriginal country they were in. I’m also grateful to those who agreed to be my guest during the week including Her Excellency, the Governor Marie Bashir, Suzy Wilson from the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, Brad Cooke (Barefoot Rugby League Show), muso Charlie Trindall, Jennifer Townsend (Chair of the Nyerna Deniliquin Reconciliation Group, Sam Jeffries (outgoing Co-Chair of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples), Olympian Patrick Johnson and Charles Prouse (National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy) among many others. You are all too deadly. Big thanks to my producers Martin Corben and Susan Atkinson for your patience with she-who-is-used-to-working-solo! 

3. ABC INDIGENOUS STAFF: The Indigenous staff at the ABC nationally are some of the most talented media professionals in the country, and I am grateful that many of them are my friends including Paul Brant, Lorena Allam, Rhianna Patrick, Warren Brown and Daniel Browning. Thank you to those who came along and supported me in my NAIDOC address at the Ultimo site and for backing me as I made my debut on radio this week. I thank you and acknowledge the voice you give to Indigenous Australia every day.

3. DREAM BOX: At the launch of NAIDOC Week at the ABC on July 4, I was introduced to Solua Middleton and her creation the DreamBox  which is a place for you to share your dreams and see what other Indigenous Australians are dreaming about. Inspirational, emotionally moving and a gentle reminder of some of things we take for granted every day, I am grateful for such an innovative project and my chance to be part of it. I went into the dream box (see pic above) and you too can send in your dream via  ABC Open  and see what dreams others have here.

4. INDIGENOUS BUSINESS AUSTRALIA: A highlight of my week was MCing the Indigenous Business Australia  NAIDOC Breakfast at the Yaama Dhiyaan Hospitality and Training Centre in Redfern. With guest speakers including AFL hero and co-founder of the Goodes-O’Loughlin Foundation, Michael O’Loughlin, it was hard not to be inspired as we enjoyed the food and service of the local Koori hospitality students, and shared the morning with Indigenous business operators, local and national government and corporate representatives. As Uncle Alan Madden said during his welcome to country, who could think of a better bunch of people to wake up and have breakfast with. Too true. I am grateful to be offered such a job... if you can call it that! Pic above is from the IBA breakfast, from left to right: Fred Channey, Chris Fry (CEO, IBA), Victor Dominello (Minister for Citizenship and Communities, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Member for Ryde), Ian Trust (Deputy Chair, IBA) and Michael O’Loughlin – all round nice guy!

5. NAIDOC BALL: Well, Cinderella here is always ready to get frocked up, and this year was no different, except that one of my oldest and dearest friends Terri Janke was named NAIDOC Person of the Year. So, I was even more excited about the night and what it promised in terms of reunions, entertainment, positive energy and community celebration. The event at the Sydney Convention Centre did not disappoint, and the party included performances by the fabulous Gondwana National Indigenous Children’s Choir Jessica Mauboy and Blake Ralph. I’m grateful for a night that provides us all with an opportunity to come together and recognise those who work tirelessly – and often under the radar – to make real change in our communities. Next year the ball is in Hobart, and I’ll be grateful for some decent weather when we head there in our gowns and silver shoes! For more details on NAIDOC check out the site here. Above is a pic of yours truly with Terri and our dear friend Robynne Quiggin, another deadly woman – Wiradjuri of course!

NAIDOC – a celebration of all we are by Leesa Watego

As a writer, I’m always inspired by and a tad jealous of someone else when they’ve written something I wish I had penned. That is the case with today’s guest blog on NAIDOC by Murri writer and mum, Leesa Watego. I’m truly grateful for Leesa’s words below because they capture much of what I feel about NAIDOC, and I appreciate the time she took to devote to this blog, given that Leesa is not only Vice-President at South East Queensland Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, a writer at The Critical Classroom, owner of Blacklines Publications, a blogger and a tweeter, she’s also an advocate for an Australian Black History Month. That's one busy Murri!

Welcome and thanks Leesa!

NAIDOC – a celebration of all we are

A quick Google images search of NAIDOC throws up nearly 30 thousand images. Bursting to the seams with bold splashes of red, black and yellow (and occasionally green, blue and white), there are images of the official NAIDOC logo scattered amongst photos of school kids painted up and posing, official photos of dignitaries holding the flags, the odd polly trying to look comfortable amongst expressions of Aboriginal sovereignty, the occasional drag queen declaring her Black pride, random ‘Aboriginal style’ animal paintings, styled-up sistas and brothas at a ball in some capital city, and grainy newspaper shots of a pre-teen Miss NAIDOC from a small regional town.

This hodge-podge collection of images - the tacky and the sophisticated, the solid and the gammin, the traditional and the contemporary, the shop bought and the homemade, the official and the pirated, all remind me that NAIDOC in real life (away from ‘the Google’) is all these things and everything in between.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ‘Australia’ has always been diverse, has always been multi-cultural. With over 350 different languages spoken on this continent for tens of thousands of years, people here have always known how to respect and value others. It’s a far cry from Australia in 2011.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people own very little of Australian popular culture. There are occasional flashes of inclusion. I remember packed nightclub dance floors when Yothu Yindi’s Treaty was regularly played in the late 1980s. But apart from the odd design on a jumbo jet, which as a corporate exercise probably doesn’t count anyway, where else are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and cultures so overtly and prominently expressed and celebrated?

For one week in July, in increasing numbers of communities all over the continent, red, black, yellow, blue, green and white, get to take prominence. There is a small sense of ownership and entitlement, however brief and fleeting. There are NAIDOC film nights, guest speakers and community events. For one week in July, Elders, dance troupes and performance groups, all over the country are booked out, as they race from one event to another, while some of us, just simply get to experience a sense of pride amongst the deadliness.

NAIDOC Week is not, will not be and does not pretend to be the answer to this country’s un-resolved relationship with her first peoples. There are big fights that need to be fought, and big challenges to be overcome. The overdue rent bill is high and getting higher. Just because more non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are recognising First Peoples and NAIDOC, doesn’t mean we’ve come enough of a long way.

But celebrating NAIDOC and being excited about the events our communities create, is one opportunity for us to affirm identity and place. It’s a slight reprieve, a time to come together, to meet old friends and make new ones. It’s a place to catch our breath as we continue to celebrate all we are and who we are, the extremes and all the in-between.

Caption for image above: Screen shot of a Google image search of ‘NAIDOC’

Wiradjuri activist Kerry Reed-Gilbert on NAIDOC Week

Kerry Reed-Gilbert is a Wiradjuri woman. She's an activist, cross-cultural trainer and poet. Her books include Black Woman, Black Life and Talkin' About Country. And she's my deadly sista. Today, she offers some thoughts on NAIDOC Week...

Kerry on NAIDOC:

Happy NAIDOC Week to one and all. NAIDOC week is the week of the year that we as Aboriginal people of Australia together with the Torres Strait Islander peoples celebrate the survival of the oldest living culture in the world. It is an opportunity for all of us as a people to come together and acknowledge who we are and where we come. It is a time when we can celebrate our people, our culture, our history and heritage. It is a time when we are able to proudly stand up and showcase who we are.

But it is also a time that we invite the wider Australian community to recognise and share the survival of the oldest living culture in the world, because that is what Aboriginal culture is, that is who we are. That is the true story of this land that we all call home. That is the knowing.

No matter what I do or who my audiences are I always stand up in front of people and tell them how proud I am at being able to say that ‘I come from the original owners, the traditional custodians of this land.’

I invite all peoples who call this land home to be proud to say ‘I live in the land of the oldest surviving culture in the world.’ I invite you all to come along and share our journey and join us in taking care of Country. I invite you all to walk this journey with us proudly and with dignity and recognise and celebrate this land we all call home.

Recognise and share the survival of the oldest living culture in the world, Aboriginal Culture.

As always yours in unity and sovereignty

Kerry Reed-Gilbert
Wiradjuri Nation
Aboriginal Australia

PS: You know it doesn’t just have to begin and end in NAIDOC week, the celebration, the journey, the knowing, it can be 24/7 every day of the year.

Paul Brant on NAIDOC Week...

It’s NAIDOC Week! So it’s time to celebrate all that is wonderful in our community. I love NAIDOC Week for the opportunities it presents specifically to school communities to bring all their students, teachers and parents together to talk history, arts and culture. I’ve got more to say about NAIDOC later in the week, but for the next few days I’m handing my blog over to some bright Indigenous stars, like tonight’s guest, Paul Brant, the Indigenous Employment Coordinator at the ABC.

I love Paul’s quote, "Our people are our greatest asset!” And with that in mind, can I suggest that this NAIDOC Week, be sure and value all your assets!

Paul’s thoughts on NAIDOC Week:
NAIDOC is a time to celebrate the many achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and ensure that all Australians take some time to gain a greater understanding of our culture, our history and our peoples.

I love having the opportunity to showcase Indigenous talent and excellence and at the ABC. We have had many events and guests over the years that have been held during NAIDOC WEEK. I have aimed to put in place an atmosphere during NAIDOC week @ ABC where not only that our customs are adhered to but our diversity is demonstrated. Indigenous Australia represents the many nations of Aboriginal Australia and also the Torres Strait Islanders who have customs and practices far different from Aboriginal customs.

It is a week where success and achievement can be celebrated, and there is so much to celebrate, the Indigenous talent in this country is strong and growing and I feel here at the ABC this is demonstrated with the incredible staff we have across the country. For instance Wayne Chee is the ABC’s longest serving Indigenous staff member who in 2011 celebrates 33 years service at the ABC. We have incredible journalists; such as Lorena Allam, Rhianna Patrick, Airlie Ward, Francis Tapim, Daniel Browning and Michael Park, our world class camera operators like Erik Havnen, Michael Nudl and Brendan Read and our specialist Indigenous programs; who make sure that Indigenous Australia has a voice at the National Broadcaster.

I don’t want to paint a rosy picture that all is fine in Indigenous Australia and the challenges we all have are immense and here at the ABC that picture is no different but I think human nature means that we can be caught up in the myriad of issues and not take some time to celebrate achievement and that is what NAIDOC week allows us all to do. The advancements made by our people in the last 25 years is a real testament of our tenacity, our pride and the building blocks put in place by our elders.

In my view our people are our greatest asset and really assist in breaking down the barriers and misunderstanding that sometimes exist in mainstream Australia. Our diversity within our culture is celebrated and builds a bridge for all Australians to take pride in a 60,000 year history. The more we all know the more we can all grow.

The week itself is full on but a very worthwhile one that some may see as window dressing but I see it as an opportunity for people to come to the window and look in, get a deeper understanding of who and what Indigenous Australia is.