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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-07-06 Daily Xml
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Woodville-West Torrens Football Club

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (14:43): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Will the minister inform the council on the Woodville-West Torrens Football Club's reconciliation action plan, which was launched over the weekend?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Attorney-General, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:43): I am very happy to, and I thank the honourable member for his question and ongoing and strong interest in Aboriginal affairs and his support of the Woodville-West Torrens Football Club. On Sunday 3 July, I had the privilege of attending and speaking at the official launch of the Woodville-West Torrens Football Club's Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan. This event coincided with the South Australian National Football League's Indigenous Round.

Woodville-West Torrens is the first club to embark on the journey of a reconciliation action plan and receive the Reflect status from Reconciliation Australia. Although it is early in their reconciliation journey, I commend the Woodville-West Torrens Football Club on taking the first steps and leading the reconciliation movement within the SANFL. Further to this, it is also the first football club in SA to actively appoint a First Nations female board member, Devina Binell, or 'Beans', and I congratulate both Devina and the footy club on this appointment. I am excited to see the positive outcomes her role is already bringing to the organisation and will bring in the future.

The afternoon on Sunday commenced with an engaging and heartfelt Welcome to Country from young Kaurna man Robert Taylor, who I have seen numerous times during NAIDOC Week already and dozens of times, I think, this year at events, providing a very generous Welcome To Country for those attending events. This was followed by speeches from both Woodville-West Torrens Football Club President Christine Williams and Chief Executive Officer Luke Powell. I do note that the Hon. Rob Kerin from the SANFL was in attendance at this special event for Woodville-West Torrens. I think that was a marked sign of respect, that the former Premier was able to be there for this important occasion.

As the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, I was honoured to have the opportunity to speak to the attendees on key themes, which included why reconciliation is such an important topic for young and upcoming leaders, sports clubs and communities, and being able to highlight that sporting clubs and such organisations have significant reach into our communities, with many people, young and old, being involved in sporting clubs their entire lives. It provides a tremendous opportunity to inspire and enable people from all walks of life to contribute to the reconciliation of the nation.

Additionally, I was able to highlight the commitment that this government has in adopting a state-based implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart: Voice, Treaty, Truth in a South Australian context and that the federal government is also committed to federally implementing the same. It was a great opportunity to meet some of the Aboriginal players and people involved with the club and also to be in attendance for the Q&A panel discussion with Devina Binell, the board member of the Eagles; Shona Reid, Chief Executive Officer of Reconciliation SA; and Rebecca Wessels from Ochre Dawn.

Across the community many groups are preparing and implementing reconciliation action plans to consider how they use their workplace and companies to advance our journey towards reconciliation. I commend the Eagles and all other clubs and organisations that are starting this journey as well.

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