2021 marks twenty years of Reconciliation Australia and almost three decades of Australia’s formal reconciliation process. I was invited to speak about Reconciliation by the Illawarra Aboriginal Community Based Working Group (IACBWG) on 2 June 2021 at Southern Youth and Family Services in Warilla.
I would sincerely like to thank June Lowe OAM and Michelle Toms for their kind invitation, warm welcome and reception of my speech.
Michelle Toms reflected:
7 June 2021
Dear Diann,
Firstly, I would like to thank you for making time to come to our meeting to discuss all things Reconciliation in front of a predominately Indigenous group of organisations and services from the Illawarra / Shoalhaven region and board members, to talk about the importance and need of reconciliation in this country.
You have a way with words that suits and attracts all members of community. Your presentation educated and inspired even the most reconciled driven people, me included. You adjusted what can sometimes, to certain members of our community be daunting or scary. We found value in your speech as it added new meaning in critically reviewing how far we have come and how we need to move forward bravely and with impact.
I have full trust that you, an incredible Ally, can help lead us forward on our Reconciliation journey.
Michelle Toms, Co-Chair, Illawarra Aboriginal Community Base Working Group (IACBWG)
You can read my speech here: Reconciliation – Are we making progress towards the wider challenge of equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples?
Photo: The logo for National Reconciliation Week 2021 by 33 Creative featuring the amazing artwork of artist Jessica Johnson of Nungala Creative. The design elements included in the logo tells the story of the active approach needed for action. Every person is asked to stand up for reconciliation and use their mind and soul to enact change. Source: https://nrw.reconciliation.org.au/