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- 6 November 2001
Currawong Project
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Mr MILLS (Wallsend) [6.28 p.m.]: I draw to the attention of the House the Currawong Project, which has taken shape in the grounds of John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, in the Wallsend electorate. It is a reconciliation project to promote the coming together of indigenous and non-indigenous Australians in the Hunter region. The project was conceived in January, and it was launched on Australia Day at King Edward Park in Newcastle by two characters, Ray Kelly and Paul Walsh. The connection these two fellows have is the power of words. Ray Kelly is the Chief Executive Officer of the Awabakal Aboriginal Co-operative of Newcastle and the Hunter Valley and a playwright. Paul Walsh is an author and publisher. In 1997 he edited the Novacastrian Tales, which raised $150,000 for Yallarwah Place.
The book told stories of the Hunter region. In particular, it was a celebration of the Bicentenary of Newcastle in 1997. The project had the strong support of the former Minister for Health, the Hon. Dr Andrew Refshauge, and the Hunter Area Health Service. Some $300,000 was put into the project by Minister Refshauge. Yallarwah Place is culturally appropriate residential accommodation for Aboriginal families whose family members, particularly children, are patients at John Hunter Hospital. Much of the drawing area for the specialties of John Hunter Hospital is in the north-west and north of New South Wales. The project is a tricky concept, but it involves individuals, families, businesses and community groups sponsoring a tree or a shrub to be planted in the grounds of Yallarwah Place. The project had the support of many organisations, including the Newcastle Herald, Tusk, the Newcastle Trades Hall Council, Awabakal, the Newcastle and Hunter Business Chamber, ABC 1233 Newcastle, the University of Newcastle and Hunter Health.
The project is dedicated to the first 200 years of shared black and white history in the Hunter. The project will climax on 24 November when members of the community can take part in a tree planting day to acknowledge reconciliation and to have their say in this joint black and white process of healing. In addition to individual community members—I made a donation in support of the project and I look forward to planting my tree, along with my wife, on 24 November—a number of distinguished Australians have been invited to plant a special tree. The first of these distinguished people was Governor-General Sir William Deane. He planted a gum tree for national reconciliation as one of his last acts as Governor-General. On 12 May Bill Deane was in the Hunter, and he and Ray Kelly jointly planted a tree.
The trees have been planted around a serpent's head at the circle of reflection in bushland to the north of Yallarwah Place. The Governor-General and Lady Deane spread soil from Government House in Canberra around the area before they planted their tree. It was a symbol of bringing together not only the people of the Hunter region but people from throughout Australia. It is a powerful sign that the soil from Government House was mingled with soil from the tribal lands of northern New South Wales at the united place of healing. Bill Deane was followed by others. The Premier has planted a tree, as has the Minister for Health. One or two others have done so as well. I pay tribute to the two people who conceived this project, Paul Walsh and Ray Kelly, and I commend them for the work they are doing to develop a community level of reconciliation. As Bill Deane and others planted their trees they said:
We plant this tree in the spirit of the currawong, black feather white feather lifting me. We plant this tree to call upon all Australians to replant a shared future together.
Mr MARKHAM (Wollongong—Parliamentary Secretary) [6.33 p.m.]: The honourable member for Wallsend has brought to the Parliament tonight an important issue highlighting reconciliation. Ray Kelly has done substantial work in the Newcastle area over many years and he continues to do so. This is simply another example of Ray's dedication to the reconciliation process. The currawong program is very important because it is based on an important native black and white bird. That bird flies because it is black and white. The project is all about highlighting reconciliation as the path forward for all of us, both black and white people, in this country. We can and should all support what the honourable member for Wallsend has said.
On 26 October I attended the inaugural annual general meeting of the New South Wales Aboriginal Reconciliation Council which was held in Sydney. At that meeting I was elected to the council executive, and the eight-person executive then elected me as the deputy chair of the New South Wales Aboriginal Reconciliation Council. I am proud and honoured to have that position bestowed on me. Once again I congratulate the honourable member for Wallsend on raising this important reconciliation issue.
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