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Wagga Wagga City Council weekly newsletter
Saturday 17 February 2024 | Issue #483
Community
Events & Tourism KEEP IN TOUCH: Wagga Touch Association President Marc Lawrence, NSW Touch Association General Manager Dean Russell and Wagga Wagga’s Deputy Mayor Cr Amelia Parkins at Jubilee Park ahead of the start of the Junior State Cup carnival.
Junior State Touch Cup carnival kicks off in Wagga Wagga
TOGETHER: The Wagga Wagga community gathered on Tuesday 13 February to commemorate the anniversary of National Apology Day, which included a Smoking Ceremony and traditional First Nations dance. On Tuesday this week Wagga Wagga City Council held the commemoration of the anniversary of National Apology Day, 16 years since it was first delivered. On 13 February 2008, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd gave the National Apology to the Stolen Generations, who have suffered and continue to suffer the impact of trauma because of past government policies of forced child removal. Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Dallas Tout says the spirit of this day is celebrated and commemorated through hearing the resilient stories of Stolen Generations survivors, and is also a day for Australians to join in on the healing journey and look to solutions for the future. “National Apology Day is a day of reflection, healing, and reconciliation, a day when we acknowledge the injustices and pain experienced by First Nations people throughout history,” Cr Tout said. “The delivery of the Apology is an opportunity for us to acknowledge the past wrongs inflicted on the First Nations
Peoples of Australia, to express our deep remorse, and to commit to a future built on understanding, respect, and equality. “The Apology is not just words; it is a promise to listen, learn, and work towards a better future together. The official proceedings commenced outside the Civic Theatre with Aunty Cheryl Penrith opening with a Welcome to Country, followed by a minute of silence and reciting of the National Apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples, conducted by Uncle Hewitt Whyman. “This day, it brings back a lot of my past, and my story about my family being removed, and how it impacted on me as a young man, a teenager,” Uncle Hewitt said. “I believe it (the Apology) was something that had to happen.” Many of the removals of children occurred due to laws and policies aimed at assimilating the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population into the predominately white community. After the reading of the Apology,
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Wiradjuri man Luke Wighton facilitated a Smoking Ceremony, which was followed by a traditional dance performance by a local First Nations Youth Dance Group. Community were then invited to come into the Civic Theatre to listen to poetry and reflections by local primary and high school students.
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Community comes together to commemorate National Apology Day anniversary
Wagga Wagga City Council and the NSW Touch Association (NSWTA) are once again hosting the Junior State Cup Southern Conference carnival at the Jubilee Park precinct this weekend (16-18 February). NSWTA General Manager Dean Russell is excited to be bringing the event back to Wagga Wagga for the sixth consecutive year. “We have 197 teams making their way to the region to battle it out for the honour of being the Southern Champions,” Mr Russell said. “With the new developments at Jubilee Oval, the facilities continue to provide an excellent venue for this event.” Around 670 games will be played by 3000 players and referees over the three days of competition. Deputy Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Amelia Parkins said the city is looking forward to welcoming the carnival back to Jubilee Park. “The carnival has been successful for the NSW Touch Association and our local community over the past five years, and we expect that trend to continue again this year,” Cr Parkins said. “Our staff have been working alongside NSW Touch to prepare the precinct for the carnival, highlighting the strong relationship we’ve forged over the past five years, a relationship we hope will continue to grow into the future.” In June last year, NSWTA named Wagga Wagga as the winner to host the 2024, 2025 and 2026 carnivals after an extensive tender process. Mr Russell believes the quality of the venue, centralised location with ease of travel, and the strengthening relationship with Council are all elements that have worked in the region’s favour in attracting this event. Games started at 8am on Friday and progress through to the finals from 11.30am on Sunday, with the prestigious Girls 18s and Boys 18s to be played at 2:30pm and 3pm respectively. Residents and road users are advised there are changed traffic conditions around the Jubilee Park precinct for the duration of the carnival.
wagga.nsw.gov.au/grants