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Week's celebration of Indigenous achievement

July 06, 2004

NAIDOC.jpgSpeakers at the University of New England’s celebration of NAIDOC Week yesterday emphasised the 2004 NAIDOC theme of “Self-determination: our community, our future, our responsibility”.
Lorina Barker, an Associate Lecturer in the School of Classics, History and Religion, and Brendan Blacklock, a second-year Natural Resources student, both spoke about the important role of UNE’s Oorala Aboriginal Centre in facilitating self-determination for Indigenous people in education.

Ms Barker mentioned two Oorala Centre programs that have helped Indigenous
people realise their potential as university students. These are the TRACKS tertiary preparation program, and the Internal Selection Program (ISP) for assessing and selecting Indigenous applicants for enrolment in undergraduate
programs at UNE.
Professor Michael Macklin, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, spoke about the reconciliation process (including apologies for past wrongs against Indigenous people) as an important part of the way forward for the Australian community. Paraphrasing part of a speech by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Alice Springs in 1987, he said: “Our community’s future is our responsibility, and the future starts today.”
Councillor Margaret Walford of Armidale Dumaresq Council, on behalf of the Indigenous community, welcomed everyone to the ceremony, which ended with the raising of the Aboriginal flag.
The award-winning country singer Todd Williams, from Dubbo, accompanied by
Armidale’s Anthony Green, entertained visitors at the morning tea (in Booloominbah) that followed the ceremony.
Diane Golden, Director of the Oorala Centre, said: “Participating in NAIDOC
Week is a very important event for staff at the Oorala Aboriginal Centre because it enables us to celebrate and share our Indigenous cultural heritage with students, the local Indigenous community, and University staff and colleagues.”

Posted by Lydia Roberts at July 6, 2004 09:51 AM