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HAPPY LITTLE
VEGEMITES
THEY’RE happy little Vegemites, as bright as bright can be: On the eve of Australia Day, it put a rose in every Dubbo Photo News’ team member’s cheek to see these exuberant, innocent little Aussies enjoying a little taste of the iconic national spread in the bright sunshine of a school holiday afternoon in the park.
T This weekend, many of us will mark the day in a variety of ways – for some it’s a day of celebration and we acknowledge that for some it’s a day of mourning. For many, it’s a day to think of what unites us while also recognising the pain of a sometimes-dark history. In this week’s edition, we hear a number of different voices, and see January 26 through the
prism of different perspectives, but we hope that whatever this date means to you, you go gently and kindly and with respect for the diversity that makes us a community. Take a look at these little Vegemite-smeared faces – they’re the faces of our community’s future. Here’s to them. Thanks to their families for
lending us our cover boys and girls for this week: Vin, Solei and Wyatt Grey (9, 7 and 4); Ruby, Maggie and Annabelle Lawson (7, 5 and 2); Billy Meredith (1); Louie, George and Charlie Knight (6, 4 and 3) and Kian Rapley (5). And a big shout out to Dave Petty and the team at Monster Signs for the giant jar of Vegemite! PHOTO: DUBBO PHOTO NEWS/STEVE COWLEY
IPROWD of the Aboriginal community By TIJANA BIRDJAN HAVING previously been Dubbo’s Australia Day Ambassador, Peter Gibbs still reflects on the opportunity to bring communities together for the annual holiday. Through his advocacy of the need for Aboriginal people to enter the NSW police force, Peter inspires others to work towards reducing historical and cultural conflict the system embeds. The Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery Program (IPROWD) provides an opportunity for Aboriginal
and/or Torres Strait Islander people to join the NSW police force and other justice and emergency services. The program was established in 2008, following the death of his sister, Fiona Gibbs, in police custody in Brewarrina in 1997. The program has enrolled close to 1000 students with hundreds more being recruited in the police force. Peter says the program is about mending and building the relationship between the NSW police and the Aboriginal community, and points to the program’s success in oth-
er jurisdictions including the Australian Federal Police. “Fundamentally this program is about recruiting students in the police force, but students gain great confidence which is an essential ingredient in their lives,” Peter says. “Our community and governments can work together which flows into helping the next generation.” The program has also enabled young students into other industries such as teaching, youth work, children care and other sectors he says, adding that it inspires people through the achievements of the stu-
dents who have taken part in the course. “Some students are now married, set up families, built their own homes, they are the role models for their brothers and sisters,” Peter says. Peter believes there is inspiration behind every corner he turns in Dubbo and that people in the community are positive role models for one another. “There is major interest in expanding nationally and internationally with countries representing their own indigenous communities,” Peter says. CONTINUED ›› PAGE 13
Peter Gibbs, Dubbo's 2021 Australia Day Ambassador. PHOTO: DUBBO PHOTO NEWS/STEVE COWLEY/FILE
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