>> Northern Sydney Region Reconciliation Network
The Northern Sydney Region Reconciliation Network(NSRRN) comprises seven Local Reconciliation Groups, WRN, ANTaR, Indigenous Organisations and Service Providers, Community Organisations and the eleven Local Councils within the Northern Sydney Region. This region extends from Sydney Harbour northwards to Broken Bay and from the Pacific Ocean westwards to Ryde, encompassing the Guringai Nation and part of the Darug Nation.
NSRRN was formed in November 2000, at the winding up of the national Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation in order to strengthen the local work which had been going on for some years under CAR’s aegis. NSRRN aims to continue the Reconciliation process at local and regional level and to maintain the Council’s vision of:
"A united Australia which respects this land of ours, values the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage; and provides justice and equity for all."
Over these years NSRRN membership has grown as more community groups and organisations become involved. Our bi-monthly lunchtime meetings are hosted in turn by each of the eleven Local Councils and attended by representatives of the member organisations plus invited guests and speakers.
Our aims are to advocate and lobby on issues relating to Indigenous Australians; to increase community education and awareness of Indigenous cultures and history; and to create opportunities for the sharing of knowledge, expertise and resources. Between meetings, members network by email to promote activities for positive change and to support each other at community and local government level.
NSRRN maintains a letter-writing campaign in support of Indigenous issues; offers support to a local Aboriginal Girls' Hostel; involves local government and non-government schools in the Reconciliation process, including the annual "Children's Voices for Reconciliation" event in four municipalities; and assists Jews for Social Justice, North Shore Temple Emanuel in their Literacy Program for Aboriginal students in four local government schools.
NSRRN has organised free Public Forums with Indigenous and non-Indigenous Speakers. Topics have been: "Black Law ~ White Law" (2005); "Whose Beach is it Anyway?" (2006); "A Sorry State of Affairs" (2007).
NSRRN is a partner with Indigenous Communities and Local Councils on several major initiatives:
1. The annual Guringai Festival, a wonderful celebration and a very public means of raising awareness of Indigenous cultures and of the two thousand Indigenous people living in the Northern Sydney Region. This Festival, now in its seventh year, runs from Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week in May through to the end of NAIDOC Week in July and has merged pre-existing separate annual activities into one multi-municipality chain of events in a regional Guringai Festival Brochure funded by Local Councils.
2. Establishment and support of:
- Northern Sydney Aboriginal Heritage Office, with an Aboriginal Heritage Manager and staff, funded by Local Councils;
- The Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan to meet the needs of local Indigenous communities, with an Aboriginal Project Officer funded by Local Councils and Dept of Community Services;
- The Northern Sydney Aboriginal Child Youth and Family Strategy, with an Aboriginal Community Facilitator funded by Families NSW and the Dept of Community Services.
3. Five Local Councils, with community support have signed the Principles of Co-operation Agreement with the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council; negotiations are proceeding with other Councils.
4. Local Councils:
- Commencing Council meetings, citizenship ceremonies and other events with a Welcome to/Acknowledgement of Country given by the appropriate people;
- Councils permanently flying the Aboriginal Flag alongside the Australian Flag;
- Plaques acknowledging Traditional Country; including a plaque at Lane Cove acknowledging Aboriginal resistance to British invasion;
- Dual language signs in English and Guringai and Darug for special sites;
- Entry Signs to the municipalities depicting the Traditional Country.
Reconciliation is about social justice and the inherent rights of Indigenous Australians; the truth-telling of our history; and the enrichment and maturity of the Australian nation. The core strength of the People�s Movement for Reconciliation lies at Local Government and Community level. Regional Networks can help strengthen smaller, more local groups and give their work wider access to the community we seek to influence.
Sharni Jones - NSRRN Co-Chairperson (Indigenous)
Kerrie McKenzie - NSRRN Co-Chairperson (non-Indigenous)
For more information please contact:
Kerrie McKenzie
eMail: kerriemckenzie@bigpond.com
Jan Boukabou
eMail: jan@steelfencing.com.au