Aboriginal elder Jill Bower praised councillors for their empathy towards Aboriginal people following the launch of council’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The two-year plan was launched yesterday to mark the start of NAIDOC Week in Bathurst.
At present, Bathurst Regional Council is one of only 37 (or ten per cent) of councils in Australia to have a RAP.
Ms Bower said discussions have been held over the past 18 months about the need for a plan and this is a good start.
She said mayor Gary Rush and councillors have shown a real willingness to work with the Aboriginal community.
Ms Bower said sometimes the issues have been controversial, but they have always been able to meet with Cr Rush and find a way forward.
Cr Rush said the Reconciliation Action Plan is an important step in true reconciliation, and will be built on over time.
He said it is council’s attempt to put in writing the reconciliation steps it is taking as a leadership organisation to ensure we have a truly inclusive community.
The RAP program was launched in 2006 as a forward-looking aspect for celebrating 40 years since the 1967 referendum.
“It makes clear our intent of moving forward as an inclusive community with cohesion and great respect,” Cr Rush said.
“Council is committed, through its own actions and leadership, to play a role in improving understanding of the values, the history, culture, rights and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to our community.
“I look forward to building on this plan in future years to make reconciliation a reality. In doing so we will become an even better, stronger and supportive community, proud to call Bathurst home.
“I believe it would have been neglectful if we had not created this plan in our bicentennial year,” Cr Rush said.
The focal point of yesterday’s NAIDOC ceremony was the raising of a new flag for the whole community.
Aboriginal elder Dinawan Dyirribang presented the flag, bearing the words Bathurst Wiradyuri and Aboriginal Community, to the city.
He explained it contained three totems significant to this area: the lyrebird, which is a speaker of many languages; the platypus, which is unique because it was created from the water rat and the duck – and so reflects our uniqueness; and the wombat, who, once he sets his mind on something, will not be deterred.
The flag also contains the colour black for the Aboriginal people, red for the blood spilled, the sun which is the giver of life, and lines representing the river that flows through country and the earth of the Bathurst plains.