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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-06-04 Daily Xml
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RECONCILIATION WEEK

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:34): I acknowledge this parliament meets on the traditional lands of the Kaurna people and acknowledge elders past and present. It was a pleasure to be involved in a few of the many activities in this year's Reconciliation Week calendar. Monday saw a packed house at the Adelaide Convention Centre attend the annual Reconciliation SA breakfast. Unprecedented demand saw over 400 people gather to welcome three of the four original Sapphires—Beverly Briggs, Laurel Robinson and Lois Peeler—'in conversation' after performing with other great artists to celebrate the 46th anniversary of the 1967 referendum.

It was great to see so many regular faithfuls and many newcomers who had come along for the very first time. Among them were the South Australian poster girl for the 1967 referendum, Shirley Peisley, a good friend to the reconciliation task force in our Florey area, and Lowitja O'Donoghue and her late sister's daughter Deb. Reconciliation SA's co-chairs Robyn Layton and Florey constituent Peter Buckskin are to be congratulated, as are Reconciliation SA staff, ably led by Mark Waters, for such an outstanding event.

In looking at the success of the morning, it reminded me how much we owe the pioneers of Reconciliation SA, who worked for many years without resources and recognition, among them some of the earlier holders of the co-chair title—Lowitja O'Donoghue herself, the late Ted Mullighan, Shirley Peisley, Jan Chorley and the hardworking former EO of Reconciliation SA, Trish Cronin, who was also at Monday's event. The campaign for constitutional recognition is well underway in this state, and Premier Weatherill is to be commended for his early embracing of the concept and the backing both he and minister Hunter and former minister Caica continue to provide to this important initiative.

On Tuesday evening, I attended the Don Dunstan Foundation's Annual Lowitja O'Donoghue Oration. This year's speaker, Olga Havnen, spoke on Healing the Fault Lines: uniting politicians, bureaucrats and NGOs for improved outcomes in Aboriginal Health. Olga was passionately introduced by Tanya Hosch, and is the former head of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy of the Australian Red Cross. She has held a range of senior public and non-government sector roles in her long career in Indigenous affairs, including deputy director of the Northern Land Council, principal policy adviser with the Office of Indigenous Policy in the Northern Territory Department of the Chief Minister, and manager of Indigenous and International Programs at the Fred Hollows Foundation. She grew up in Tennant Creek and is the daughter of Aboriginal educator Peg Havnen, and told stories of her youth and introductions to the issues she now so wonderfully champions. A musical ending led by University of Adelaide's CASM choir rounded off a night that left all present invigorated and hopeful of one day 'overcoming'.

On Friday, the Aboriginal veterans' commemoration service at North Terrace's War Memorial was emceed by David Rathman, who led attendees through a service held in intermittent and light driving rain. The speech by Professor Roger Thomas about his ancestor Arnold Thomas was very moving and a fitting tribute to a man whose life was spent mostly without family resources before an outstanding period of service to his country. The importance of this service on the veterans' calendar was reinforced by the number of dignitaries and members of the public and parliament who attended. Many laid tributes of books which are distributed to the community.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the Boer War service held on the preceding Sunday (I think that was 26 May) which honoured those who took part in South Australia's first war effort. This year, it was part of History SA's About Time History Month, and it was good to see councillor Brian Goodall from the City of Salisbury there. The wonderful monument on the corner of King William Street and North Terrace is actually modelled on his ancestor, George Henry Goodall. The state association is looking forward to reinvigoration, and will go from strength to strength if the amount of interest shown on the day is anything to go by. I look forward to working with them on the history of Leonard Warburton Matters of the fifth, brother of our international suffragist Muriel Matters.

Later that morning saw the innovative sod turning at the Torrens Parade Ground for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Memorial. I say 'innovative' because extreme inclement weather saw innovations at the ceremony implemented and successfully incorporated in what was a very moving morning for all involved.

Attended by many dignitaries (among them, Marj Tripp, Lowitja O'Donoghue and fundraiser Sir Eric Neal, who was accompanied by Lady Neal, and Bill Denny, who is a stalwart servant of the Aboriginal and veterans communities in this state) minister Snelling gave a fantastic speech that was enthusiastically welcomed by all in attendance. Many important guests were there—Auntie Shirley, Auntie Monica Whitman, and Peter Goers, who is another person who gives so much to the veterans throughout this state.

This is just a sample of the events of this very special week, and I would like to end by noting the passing of Hazel Hawke, who did so much for so many in her time as First Lady, and before and after that in her service to the nation. Her death saddened all who knew of her. In my electorate, she is fondly remembered by the community, especially people associated with the Lurra Community Child Care Centre, which she actually opened in 1986. 'Lurra' means 'nest' and the centre has a strong commitment to Indigenous learnings. It was good to meet with Robyn Geisler and parents and children when the Premier came to Florey last week.

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