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Item 12.4 - Attachment 1 |
Minutes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Advisory Committee 22nd July 2008 |
MINUTES OF THE ABORIGINAL
AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN ROOM 1,
GROUND FLOOR, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, PARRAMATTA ON TUESDAY 22nd July 2008 AT 6.05 PM.
__________________________________________________________________________
PRESENT
Bruce Gale (in the Chair), June McGrath, Marcia
Donovan, Annie Nielsen, Lyn Leerson, Doug Desjardines, Gilson Saunders, Phillip
Bradley (arrived at 6.34) and Clr Maureen Walsh
IN ATTENDANCE
Maggie
Kyle – Community Capacity Building Officer and Elise Mawhood – Minute taker,
Tanya Bigeni – Events and Projects Office, Bettina King – Aboriginal Family
Project Officer
MINUTES
1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRADITIONAL OWNERS THE DHARUG
PEOPLE
Bruce Gale
did an Acknowledgment of Country recognising that the land upon which the
meeting was being held is Dharug and paying respect to Elders past and present.
2 WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
Bruce Gale welcomed members and PCC staff to the meeting.
3 CHAIRPERSON’S
REMINDER REGARDING MEETING PROTOCOLS
The Chairperson reminded members
of the meeting protocol.
4 APOLOGIES
Apologies
were received and accepted for the absence of Linda McDonald, John Robertson, Anne Stonham, Phil Russo, Anne Castles, Clr Paul Barber, Shanene Hogg –
ATSI Community Project Officer.
5 CONFLICT OF
INTERESTS
No
conflicts of interest noted.
6 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
A copy of the minutes of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Advisory Committee Meeting held on
RECOMMENDATION (Donovan/McGrath)
The minutes of the Aboriginal and
7 BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF THE
MEETING 27th MAY 2008
Minute: 9.1:
Social
The Committee requested
Maggie Kyle invite Joanne McNeill, Community Capacity Building Officer Social
Enterprise, to attend the August Committee meeting and provide further
information on the proposed Social Enterprise Information Forum for Aboriginal
people.
Minute
9.9: Card to Anne Stonham
Maggie Kyle tabled the thank you card from Anne
Stonham which thanked the Committee for the card they had sent and the Lord
Mayor for the flowers he had sent.
8 NAIDOC 2008 REVIEW
Tanya
Bigeni informed the ATSI Advisory Committee that she will be on maternity leave
for next year’s NAIDOC event, however will ensure a full handover to the
appropriate Council Officer.
The
overall community response to NAIDOC 2008 Burramatta Family Fun Day, Library Workshops
and Mall Artists has been overwhelmingly positive and each event had attracted
many more people than in previous years.
8.1
PCC Central Library – Workshops
The
workshops put on by the Library during NAIDOC week were extremely well received
with approximately 200 children attending each workshop. Art work from the workshops will be framed
and hung throughout the Library. The
Library has suggested they will be running a program in 2009 with a possibility
of extending the program to our Library branches.
8.2
Burramatta Family Fun Day Feedback
8.2.1 General Comments
The Burramatta Family Day was
considered very successful by Council Staff, Committee Members and the
community with a great cross section of cultures attending and enjoying the day. The 1,500 - 2,000 strong crowd was consistent
throughout the course of the whole day.
The Committee noted that
Parramatta City Council is the only Council that puts this event on as a free event
(Burramatta Family Fun Day – NAIDOC) and agreed it was an excellent way of
promoting the City.
The committee agreed the new venue
was excellent and they preferred it to the old venue however next year they
would look at providing transport from outlying suburbs.
The final evaluation report will
be completed within the next couple of weeks and will be made available to
Committee members.
It was disappointing the Police
did not attend and it was suggested that they be asked to attend earlier in
2009. Maggie Kyle reported that Police she worked with on other Committees has
been extremely busy as a result of World Youth Day and had been prevented from
participating in a range of activities that they normally would have.
The Committee were very happy with
the free caps and would like to include them again in 2009.
Councillor Walsh advised that the
Cycleway Committee would like to participate in 2009 by organise a bike ride or
a bike raffle.
Councillor Walsh asked Committee
members to survey their local committees or community members regarding their
attendance at NAIDOC 2008. For example,
June McGrath could talk with the Aboriginal Women’s Group and bring back
information as to how many attended, how they heard about the event, or, if
relevant, how they could they have been informed.
This information could then be fed into the Evaluation Report. Bettina King will
also follow up with some of her groups.
Tanya Bigeni handed out the
certificates of appreciation to those members who were not available on the
day.
Tanya Bigeni thanked the Committee
members for their assistance in the build up to NAIDOC 2008 and their participation
on the day and made special mention of Linda McDonald’s assistance.
Doug Desjardines noted that the
participants were happy to receive the certificates of appreciation which were
handed out on the day by Committee members.
It was suggestion that a NAIDOC
artwork competition be held by Parramatta Library in 2009 and that the artwork
be used for marketing purposes in the lead up to and during NAIDOC week 2009.
Members discussed the problem of
the national NAIDOC theme being announced late which meant a delay in promoting
NAIDOC events. Members discussed whether
it would be useful to have two NAIDOC themes; a local theme and the national
theme. Holroyd Council currently identifies a local theme that they use prior
to the announcement of the national theme.
Clr Marueen Walsh thanked the
committee member for inviting Wayne and Dot Parker to the NAIDOC Flag raising
and Burramatta Family Fun Day.
8.2.2
Entertainment
There was agreement that this year’s
stage program was excellent and that Descendence Dance Troupe and Sharnee Fenwick
be invited to participate in 2009.
The introduction of the slide for
older children was well received and added to the entertainment for this age
group.
8.2.3 Food and refreshments
Members commented that the free fairy
floss machine was very well received by the children, however Council Officers
noted that there were some concerns as fairy floss is not in line with the
health initiatives that Council currently promotes. It was also noted that the
increasing rates of childhood diabetes indicates we should find a healthy
alternative for NAIDOC 2009.
Members noted that there a clear
expectation by the service club providing the BBQ that people make a gold coin
donation. This was not acceptable as Council had previously made a donation to
the club to cover their costs.
8.2.4
Transport
Tanya Bigeni noted that next year
‘The loop’ (the free shuttle bus) will be up and running and may assist with some
of the transport issues, i.e. less walking from the station or other areas
covered by the shuttle bus route.
Doug Desjardines suggested we
approach Parramatta Leagues club to assist with funding or an in kind donation
for a shuttle bus service from suburbs to Parramatta Park for next year.
As another alternative, the Event
Co-ordinator for 2009 should look into whether the NAIDOC budget can sustain a
bus for the day.
Bettina King made note that
transport can be an issue for families with young children in particular as
getting to trains/ bus stops and then on and off the transport with children
was very difficult.
8.2.5
Advertising
Bettina King noted that a large
volume of flyers were dispatched to schools within the LGA to encourage family
participation.
The Committee requested the Event
Co-ordinator for NAIDOC 2009 try to secure more free radio promotion.
Tanya Bigeni suggested that the
signage/advertising for 2009 note that Westmead Railway Station is the closest train
station to the event.
Bruce Gale noted his determination
to get advertising throughout Rail Corp.
8.2.6
Stalls
The stalls increased to 20 this
year however unfortunately there were a few stall holders that did not show up
on the day.
Doug Desjardines noted that the
Aboriginal Disability Service were very happy
with the number of volunteers they were able to sign up during the course of
the day.
8.3 NAIDOC Ball
Gilson
Saunders suggested an additional proposal be put forward that the members of
the ATSI Advisory Committee run an independent NAIDOC Ball. Members requested
that Linda McDonald provide an update on the NAIDOC ball recently held at St
Mary’s RSL.
8.4
Parramatta
Gaol was appreciative of all donations towards the Parramatta Gaol BBQ. Council
had contributed Kangaroo meat.
Recommendation: Bradley/Leerson
That
ATSI Advisory Committee thank Council Officers and the working group for the
highly successful NAIDOC activities, especially Burramatta Family Fun Day.
8.5
Aboriginal Families Project
Bettina
King updated the ATSI Advisory Committee members on the NAIDOC workshops she
held i.e. Didgeridoo playing and Koori art.
Bettina King also extended an open invitation to Committee members to
all her events.
8.6
Shanene
Hogg had worked with Holroyd Council to hold a morning tea for ATSI Advisory
Committee members, the Lord Mayors and Council Officers. The morning tea also
included showing the film, ‘A Bit of Black Business’. It was noted that Parramatta City Library is planning
on showing this DVD to the public later in the year.
9 RACISM AT PARRAMATTA STADIUM
Gilson
Saunders described to members that during the
10 GENERAL BUSINESS AND INFORMATION SHARING
10.1 Request for Consultant to contact Committee Members
Maggie
Kyle reported to the Committee that the Community Capacity Building Team has
employed a consultant, Pat Johnson, to prepare a report on ‘The State of the
Community’. It includes demographic statistics and the results of surveys/
interviews with members of
10.2 Public Schools in
Members
noted that a number of schools in the area are not respectful of Aboriginal
people. For example they do not fly the Aboriginal flag, Acknowledge Country,
or celebrate NAIDOC week. Committee
members shared their concerns around experiences reported to have occurred at a
particular school in
Bettina
King noted that
Bettina King is continuing her work with local
schools in promoting ATSI knowledge and identity and will continue to report
back to the ATSI Advisory Committee.
Members agreed that if there is still a lack of
cooperation between schools and Aboriginal communities in a few months time the
Committee will recommend Council write to the Department of Education.
10.3 National Aboriginal and Islander Children’s
Day
Phillip Bradley tabled the posters for the upcoming National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day being
held on 4th August.
10.4 Acknowledgement of thanks to The Honourable
Laurie
Doug Desjardines acknowledged and thanked The Hon.
Laurie Ferguson MP for his assistance to a prisoner in Long Bay Correctional
Facility.
10.5 Accommodation for Aboriginal people in the
Clr Walsh noted that there is only minimal accommodation
available in the
Bruce
Gale suggested that Fairfield Council may be a source of information in getting
a new hostel or care service off the ground in the area.
Maggie
Kyle advised that the Dept. of Corrective Services are setting up four pilot
programs in NSW to provide accommodation and support programs for prisoners
coming out of gaol with no or little support. The Campbelltown centre is about
to be opened.
10.6 Fundraising event for Indigenous young
Olympian
Doug Desjardines tabled the flyer on an upcoming
fundraising event for an Indigenous young person to attend the Para Olympics. The
event is a lunch and auction at Parliament House, Sydney. Clr Walsh reported that she will speak to the Lord
Mayor about additional support.
10.7 Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team
Clr Walsh informed the Committee about the Lloyd
McDermott Rugby Development Team (LMRDT) and their commitment to promoting
Rugby Union for young Aboriginal men and women. They are aiming to increase the
participation rate in future years.
Clr Walsh also reported that Parramatta Two Blues are
playing Indian School Boys Rugby Team and would like four Aboriginal teams to
play on
Next
Meetings
ATSI
Advisory Executive Meeting
Room 1,
Ground Floor Council Chambers,
TBC
ATSI
Advisory Committee Meeting
Room 1,
Ground Floor Council Chambers,
The
Meeting concluded at