COMMUNITY NEWS
Council Corner
THE recent Council meeting last less than one hour. Very little business was transacted. Perhaps the most farcical point within the meeting centered around the perceived conflict of interest. Councilor Millwood declared a conflict of interest with regard to the catering issue before Council due to her living next door to one of the caterers used. Councilor Barnes raised whether he needed to declare a conflict due to a caterer living in the same street as he does. This clearly demonstrates the gun-shy nature of local government councilors today. Rather than getting on with business they are constantly on the lookout for trip-wires and potential booby-traps. Catering was raised as an example of this Council’s dedication to cost savings across the entire face of Council. The Chief Financial Officer presented a report prepared for Council speculating the savings could be in the order of $10,000 over the year. Under general business, Director for Infrastructure, Da-
vid Goodman reported on the current status surrounding the dredging of One Mile Creek and Port Hinchinbrook Harbour. Council currently are researching and compiling the reports required to present to the Federal Government later this year, with the view to securing the promised $1.5 million for the project. The commitment to fund by the government is dependent upon a demonstration by Council of the economic and community benefit, employment during the process as well as continued employment after completion as well as suitable costings attached to the execution of the project. Council is hopeful of finalizing their submission to the Federal Government later this year. The Mission Beach Aquatic Centre was a brief topic of discussion during general business with a recommendation approved that Council’s CEO prepared a report for Council covering opening hours and operations for the aquatic facility. In other news it is the understanding that Council’s Executive Manager, Anne Pleash has left Council on mutually
agreeable terms. It was believed that Pleash was to be offered to be redeployed into a junior position, however this offer was not mutually agreeable for both parties. When Council was approached to confirm the departure of Pleash a Council spokesman stated, “Following the move to adopt recommendations presented to Councillors regarding the organisation structure, Council is currently undertaking a consultation period of 21 days with affected staff and Unions regarding the proposed changes. We understand the community has an interest in the outcome of this process and we are committed to keeping them informed. However, at this time, we have a responsibility to our staff to ensure they are first informed and supported. When it is appropriate to do so, we will provide further information to the public regarding the organisational review. Including but not limited to details regarding cost savings. Until that time we ask for patience and understanding while our staff navigate a time of uncertainty and change.
2020 Queensland Reconciliation Awards announced
aberg community, but across Queensland. In other categories, Hutchinson Builders was named winner of the Business category for its Statim Yaga (Start Work) program, which focusses on Indigenous training and employment. Beulah Community Limited, which established the First People’s Memorial Garden and War Memorial and a Frontier Wars installation featuring artworks by several local First Peoples artists, took out the Community category award. Eidsvold P–12 State School was the winner of the Education category for Yumbin means ‘All of us’, an initiative to link students, teachers and the wider community through health, wellbeing and a focus on building cultural capacity. Sunshine Coast Regional Council’s Kids in Action program, in partnership with Jinibara Aboriginal Corporation and Gubbi Gubbi Dance, was the winner of the Partnership category. Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Craig Crawford congratulated the award recipients. “Reconciliation is the responsibility of all Queenslanders and through these awards we continue to acknowledge and honour the positive actions taken towards closing the gap,” Minister Crawford said. The winning projects across the categories of business, community, education, partnership and the Premier’s Reconciliation Award will receive a share of $25,000 in prize money. The Queensland Reconciliation Awards is an initiative of the Queensland Government through the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships. For further information, visit: www.qld.gov. au/reconciliation. 2020 Queensland Reconciliation Award win566 East Feluga Road, East Feluga – $150,000 ners Premier ’s Reconciliation Award Indigenous Wellbeing Centre There is a dwelling on the property with a detached two vehicle garage, as well Ltd for Screens as an additional three bay shed on the lower part of the block. At the bottom share Aboriginal corner of the property you will find a pond being fed by a natural water source. history to support Situated on an approx. 3,034m2 allotment, this property has been converted into reconciliation The IndigeContact Hooker of Tully fortownship, more information. two units. Located on theLJoutskirts Tully this property offers space nous Wellbeing with the convenience of being close to town. Centre (IWC) is an AborigiWeb: https://tully.ljhooker.com.au/a1dgya View: Sat, 15 Feb - 9am - 9:45am Web: ljhooker.com.au/9JUGYA nal Community-Controlled Contact: Health OrganisaLJ Hooker Tully – 4068 1100 tion committed to reconciliation in
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THE Premier has announced this year’s 2020 Queensland Reconciliation Awards winners and congratulated the 16 awards finalists for their dedication and commitment to reconciliation across Queensland. The awards are held as part of National Reconciliation Week (May 27 – June 3). The Premier said a construction company focusing on Indigenous training and employment, a memorial garden honouring the First Nations Peoples, and the team responsible for an 80-metre screen project depicting the First Nation oral histories are among this year’s recipients. “The strength and diversity of the initiatives honoured through these awards is a true indication of the support for reconciliation across the State,” Ms Palaszczuk said. Indigenous Wellbeing Centre Ltd was named the winner of the Premier’s Reconciliation Award for its initiative Screens share Aboriginal history to support reconciliation. “This wonderful initiative showcases the benefits of approaching reconciliation as a community. It focused on the First Nations Peoples and the trauma experienced in their lifetime, a platform for true reconciliation and a healing process for the community,” the Premier said. “The Indigenous Wellbeing Centre has acknowledged the importance and sensitivities of the past through a piece of art, and also opened a platform for discussion, not just within the Bund-
APPROX. 1.4 HA (3.48 Acres) IN EAST FELUGA FIVE BEDROOM, THREE BATHROOM DWELLING
action. Forty per cent of IWC’s staff are Indigenous, and 93 per cent of the region’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people access IWC services and programs. IWC created an 80 metre-long pictorial depiction of First Nation oral histories. The screens project was undertaken with the First Nation Traditional Owners and Elders of the region and the Taribelang Cultural Aboriginal Corporation. A local artist created 11 paintings that were copied to become weatherproof aluminium screening, able to be lit at night. Business category Hutchinson Builders for Statim Yaga (Start Work) In 2012, during its 100th anniversary, Hutchinson Builders employed a dedicated Indigenous specialist with the aim of introducing the company to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to engage and work with the communities in a respectful manner. This has evolved to become the Statim Yaga, or Start Work program, which focusses on Indigenous training and employment while increasing the cultural capability of the broader organisation. Since its launch, Statim Yaga has increased the company’s Indigenous workforce, placed 411 Indigenous workers into construction careers, and spent more than $25 million in contracts with Queensland Indigenous businesses. Community category Beulah Community Limited Beulah Community Limited established the First People's Memorial Garden in 2009 in response to a request from a First Nations People's health provider to partake in Sorry Business and install memorial plaques at Beulah's centre in Buderim Forest Nature Refuge. Paths, sitting places and artworks by various local Indigenous artists have been steadily added. A First People and Islanders’ War Memorial was installed in 2015, and in 2017 a Frontier Wars Installation featuring artworks by several local First People artists was built. A statue of the local resistance leader, Dundalli, was added in 2018. Annual gatherings are held on Anzac Day to remember Frontier Wars, on 5 January to remember Dundalli and on Elders Day to remember the local Elders. Education category Eidsvold P–12 State School for Yumbin means ‘All of us’ Eidsvold P–12 State School's Yumbin program began as an initiative to link students, teachers and the wider community together through health, wellbeing and an explicit focus on building cultural capability. With the support of teachers, the P&C community and the local Elders group, the Yumbin program was implemented across the school from the start of 2017. The Yumbin philosophy has continued to grow rapidly. Over the past three years the school has set up a full P–12 language reclamation program, shown a dramatic increase in community and school relationships, been a lighthouse school for positive behaviour for learning. Partnership category Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Jinibara People Aboriginal Corporation and Gubbi Gubbi Dance for Kids in Action Program Sunshine Coast Council’s Kids in Action (KIA) program was created to encourage young people to become future custodians of the natural environment. Funded by the council’s environmental levy and local businesses, KIA partners with many local community groups and is offered to all Sunshine Coast schools. Jinibara and Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi First Nations community members partnered with the KIA program to deliver a program underpinned by ecological knowledge, language and cultural practice, connecting to country and celebrating nature's icons.
Cassowary Coast Independent News, Thursday, June 4, 2020 Page 7
