The Shoalhaven: Finding the silver lining after the Referendum – published in April edition of Voice from the Heart Alliance newsletter
There was a bunch of us in the Shoalhaven who campaigned hard in 2023 for a Yes vote in the Referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Many of us participated through the Shoalhaven Alliance for Yes 23 group. We were all devastated by the result on 14 October 2023. Now, after just over five months of discussion, workshops and consultation, a new group has emerged from the ashes: the Shoalhaven Walking Together Alliance. We are soon to be incorporated as an association. The parts of our new constitution which we hope will set the tone for who we are, how we will operate – Walking Together – and what we want to do going forward include:
An Acknowledgement of Country, in which we recognise the First Nations Peoples of the Dharawal and Dhurga language groups of the Shoalhaven and Jervis Bay Territory as the Rightful Custodians of the lands and waterways in the Shoalhaven;
Supporting initiatives that are led by local Aboriginal communities, including First Nations led local truth-telling and education; Making our local communities more safe, loving, and inclusive for First Nations Peoples, and promoting a culture of anti-racism;
A committee structure where at least four out of ten committee positions are reserved for First Nations people and local Aboriginal organisations.
Some upcoming initiatives include:
A presentation on 28 April 2024 by local historian and archivist, Michael Organ, who has compiled an extensive collection of source documents from the Illawarra and South Coast from 1770 – 1850, and sharing that information with the local community to help fill in the gaps about what happened in the Shoalhaven during colonisation upon First Nations Peoples and the resulting disadvantage this has caused;
Supporting the Yila Healing Trail, a festival of events and workshops, on 11 – 20 October 2024. “Yila” means “to bring” in Dhurga language, reflecting the aim of the Trail to bring about healing in the Shoalhaven and beyond;
A First Nations Film Festival to be held in Huskisson, in September 2024.
And the silver lining from the Referendum? The Referendum raised awareness among many non-Indigenous Australians of the great injustices inflicted by colonisation upon First Nations People and the resulting disadvantage that has caused. Our new Shoalhaven group is now using that momentum. We are building on the local relationships that were forged during the Referendum campaign between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal members of the community so that we can continue to press for the change that is needed.
Lisa Ogle – secretary