Community members still fighting for reconciliation

Thomas Mayor, branch secretary of the Maritime Union and advocate of the Uluru Statement from the Heart visited Nowra on Wednesday, to discuss how the statement would benefit Australia as a whole. 

The statement is a proposal of constitutional reform, that aims to create a “constitutionally enshrined” First Nations representative body, to advise parliament on policy affecting Indigenous people. The Uluru Statement also asks Australia commit to the creation of Makarrata commission. 

“Makarrata is a word that comes from Yolngu people that means coming together after a struggle,” Mr Mayor said. 

“The commission would undertake a process of truth-telling about how the colonisation of this country affected the First Nations.”

READ MORE: Aboriginal community will ‘never forget’ this council decision

Mr Mayor said Australia was one of the few countries not to have a treaty in place with its indigenous people. 

“We are not taking no for an answer and we want people from everywhere to ask us more about the Uluru Statement,” he said. 

“If more people know about the statement, there is more chance of reform.” 

Shoalhaven City Councillor Kaye Gartner said it was important to remember that six per cent of the region’s population were indigenous. 

“The Shoalhaven community is on Yuin land and always will be,” she said. 

“The Uluru Statement from the Heart is an opportunity for us as Australian people to moved forward and incorporate the gifts of our cultures.” 

Cr Gartner said she expected the vote to be different when the issue was brought back to council. 

“We have the opportunity to put forward our endorsement to the Federal Government, as we do with many other issues, and I’m expecting things to be very different,” she said. 

“I think there are a number of councillors who really want to hear the voice of our Aboriginal people, so I think with the time for further reflection and research we will have a different outcome.”