A special presentation to Moree’s Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre marked the official opening of Reconciliation Week 2018 on Monday morning.
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This year’s Reconciliation Week theme is ‘Don’t keep history a mystery’ and in keeping with that, Moree’s Reconciliation Group presented an original copy of Kevin Rudd’s 2008 apology document, signed by the National Labor Indigenous Caucus, to the Dhiiyaan Centre on Monday.
“The Moree Reconciliation Group was gifted a present from Linda Burney and the Indigenous Labor Caucus and Senator Malarndirri MCarthy for us to choose an organisation in Moree that we believe is keeping history alive and not making it a mystery,” Moree Reconciliation Group member Glen Crump said during Monday’s official opening.
“So within our group, we decided today to present this historic document to the Dhiiyaan Centre where it will be displayed for all to see.
“We know it will be in safe hands and live forever in the Dhiiyaan Centre.”
Moree Plains Shire Council’s director of corporate services Mitchell Johnson said the document will take pride of place up on the walls of the Dhiiyaan Centre for many years to come.
“It is such a significant document, the apology document, so it’s great you’ve been able to get this and donate it to the centre, so thank you very much,” he said.
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Mr Johnson, on behalf of Moree mayor Katrina Humphries, welcomed everyone to the refurbished Dhiiyaan Centre for the official opening, while Aunty Gay Roberts did the Welcome to Country and Moree Reconciliation Group member Jason Poutawa encouraged people to “let go of the things that divides us and embrace the things that unite us”.
Meanwhile, Dhiiyaan Centre collections development officer Raquel Clarke, who was the MC for the opening, shared her father’s story and encouraged others to share their own stories this week as part of this year’s Reconciliation Week theme.
“I knew a man, a humble, hardworking man, whose passion was stock work and riding horses,” she told the crowd.
I would like to encourage everyone to share their memories and thoughts, as we all have a story to tell. Let’s not keep our history a mystery any longer. It just may be these stories that help us heal together.
- Raquel Clarke
“He moved away and found work as a kitchen hand; each day he would peel potatoes by hand, a pile right up to his waist to feed those who were to one day become professors, scholars and doctors. After the chef created a masterpiece with the spuds that he peeled all morning, he would then wash up the dishes in hot water. His hands were blistered and his skin was toughened, but he was satisfied that he did a hard day’s work.
“He passed at the young age of 55 on his sister’s birthday. She never celebrated that day after that.
“As he was so well respected and liked by his workmates, they created the Billy Clarke Memorial Award for the employee of the year.
“This man is my father. He didn’t talk much about his childhood, just that he had bread soaked in fat for his school lunch when he attended the Moree Mission School. He also made sure we knew who his father was and gave us a photo of him.
“That was 17 years ago. A year ago, an elder shared another story with me. My dad lived in the first house on the mission. When welfare was coming in their cars, he would run from his house to the end of the mission to warn everyone. He was literally running for his life and the lives of all the kids.
“I was given a photo a couple of years ago by another elder while I was away training for Dhiiyaan. He gave me a photo of my dad, himself and my dad’s cousin. I never knew he liked the beach. This photo now takes pride of place in my living room.
“We often see this at Dhiiyaan – where there are gaps in researching family history. It’s a real achievement to find out a relative’s name, but to discover the stories behind the name is quite special.
“I would like to encourage everyone to share their memories and thoughts, as we all have a story to tell. Let’s not keep our history a mystery any longer. It just may be these stories that help us heal together.”
The official opening launched the week-long Reconciliation Week celebrations which include a cook-off on Tuesday, Reconciliation Games on Wednesday, the laying of plaques on unmarked Aboriginal graves at Moree Cemetery on Thursday, the gala awards night on Friday and much more.