The Logan District Elders held a National Reconciliation Week event at Woodridge State High School in collaboration with YFS and Logan City Council recently.
Keeping in line with this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme of “All In”, the event was tipped as one of the biggest Reconciliation Week events in recent history, with more than 19 community stalls, food options, community and service information stalls and activities to keep everyone engaged.
Split into two sessions focusing on families and seniors, and then kids, this year’s event had a strong focus on multigenerational connections and youth leadership, with both Elders, community leaders and Woodridge State High School students involved in the planning and execution of the event.
Logan District Elders secretary and council member Aunty Margaret Finlay said the event helped people understand why reconciliation was so important and learn what it means for them.
“ This is such a multicultural community, about two hundred and forty different culture groups in Logan, and we all need to start recognising each other and work towards bettering our community,” she said.
Logan Division 2 councillor Teresa Lane said the event was an important way to share First Nations culture.
“Reconciliation Week is such an important time for us. It encompasses Sorry Day and the commemorations around Stolen Generations,” she said.
“Reconciliation is different with everybody that you speak with. They have different views and different ideals, but mostly it’s about looking forward to the future and creating a better future for First Nations people by listening, learning,and actually doing something.
“These are one of those profound moments where we can actually teach people what it is to be a First Nations person, where you can go out and it doesn’t matter whether you’re from Africa, East Asia, from the Americas even. T
“There’s capacity to learn and respect our First Peoples’ culture at events like this,” she said.
Member for Woodridge Cameron Dick said this event was important to understand the experiences and struggles of First Nations people to build a more vibrant Queensland.
“Reconciliation means listening to our First Nations elders about the past, understanding the past, so together we can move forward in a harmonious and united fashion,” he said.
National Reconciliation Week runs every year from 27 May to 3 June, to celebrate the referendum of 1967 which removed clauses from the constitution that discriminated against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples, and Mabo Day, in remembrance of the High Court 1992 Mabo decision in which the High Court of Australia recognised the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights over their lands.
Subscribe to stay up-to-date with news from across Logan. You’ll receive a link to our digital newspaper direct to your inbox each week. It’s free.
