Indigenous Centre Proposed

SYDNEY could soon become an international tourist destination for Aboriginal heritage with an indigenous history and culture centre proposed on the back of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology to the stolen generations last month reports Lisa Capozzi in the Central of 19 March 2008..

The proposed centre, which is gaining support from high-profile Sydney personalities including NSW Governor Marie Bashir, is included in Sydney Council's yet-to-be released Sustainable Sydney 2030 document and the city's corporate and social plans.

Councillor Marcelle Hoff said the idea was to create an internationally recognised, comprehensive centre that tells the story of indigenous Australians.

"The idea is now gaining momentum with an enormous amount of interest being shown by a wide range of people," Cr Hoff told Central.

"There are some really powerful people interested."

A concept paper on the proposed centre obtained by Central said a great deal of community consultation would occur before the concept could be realised. "The centre will document and exhibit the history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, preserving the memories and stories of individuals and communities," the paper, produced by Cr Hoff as a guide only, reads.

"Containing the world's largest repository of information on indigenous Australians, 'The Centre' will be a leader in indigenous Australian history, culture, education, commemoration, art, research and documentation and will be accessed by visitors, students and academics.

"It will, by its very nature, be a place for reconciliation and hope."

Examples for the concept to follow include the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in New York, the Yad Vashem in Jerusalem and the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC.

The concept plan also states an advisory or exploratory committee needs to be established. It is expected a proposal to form the committee will come to council as early as next month.

"This committee will include Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal leaders who share the vision for this project," the plan says.

Cr Hoff said the project provided an opportunity to capitalise on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology. "Indigenous Australians face many challenges at a time when Australia is enjoying unprecedented economic and lifestyle prosperity," she said.

"The opportunity exists for this project to be a springboard to uplift and honour the spirit of indigenous Australians, to share their rich history and culture with the rest of society, and to look to a brighter future.

"Politically, socially, culturally, the time is right to begin this project."

Photo: Marcelle Hoff and Michael Kirby are overcome with emotion as they watch Prime Minister Kevin Rudd deliver an apology to the stolen generations.

Centre Ideas

• A painting of a serpent on the floor that leads visitors on the journey.
• Aromas of eucalyptus and smoke.
• Traditional Aboriginal music.
• Aboriginal elders handling specific exhibits along the way - an exhibit on the Stolen Generation may have representatives of this group who would be willing to tell their own stories.
• A comprehensive library of indigenous Australian archives, books, artefacts, art and multimedia.
• Facilities for in-house education, seminars and lectures for visitors, students and scholars. Programs and material produced there could be made available for educational purposes throughout Australia and overseas.
• The centre and its elements will be given Aboriginal names.
• Suggested sites include Redfern, Pier 2/3, Cockatoo Island, Snapper Island and Goat Island.
• A contribution of land, facilities and money by local, state and federal governments would be crucial.
• The centre would be designed as an embodiment of reconciliation and a major domestic and international tourist destination.

Let’s Build it on the Block: Mundine

ABORIGINAL leader Mickey Mundine says Redfem's Block is the perfect place for an indigenous heritage and cultural centre reports Lisa Capozzi in the Central of 19 March 2008.

He described the concept as "a blessing" and said it would fit perfectly with the Aboriginal Housing Company's plans to redevelop the Block to create new housing and an Aboriginal educational and cultural hub. "It will change the face of this community," Mr Mundine told Central.

"This is where the Aboriginals are and this is where we will stay - it would be a blessing to show people about our culture.

"The Block is the perfect place - this is our main watering hole, it is a modern sacred site."

Playing with Redfern children last week, Mundine said it was them that would benefit the most.

"It's for the next generation," he said.

"As adults, we need to start paving the way for them. "I really feel, now that Kevin Rudd has said sorry, that a door has been opened, and it is time people started coming to Redfern to learn about the true history of Aboriginal culture."

He said the cultural centre would complement aspects of the Aboriginal Housing Company's Pemulway project for Eveleigh St, which includes 62 new houses and educational and health facilities.

Time for Action - Editorial

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd's apology to the stolen generations touched millions of people across the country, with many branding it a breakthrough in the reconciliation journey Writes Lisa Capozzi in the Central Editorial of 19 March 2008..

But now the words have been said, it's time for action, and an indigenous Australian history and cultural centre for Sydney is a great place to start.

The centre would make Aboriginal culture a tourist drawcard for the city, which has strong Indigenous roots. Although there is a large Aboriginal tourist centre in Cairns, there isn't anything similar in Sydney, a city which attracts more than half of all overseas tourists coming to Australia every year, according to the latest International Visitor Survey released this week. It makes sense to educate tourists - and locals for that matter - about Aboriginal history and heritage.

Aboriginal activist Mickey Mundine told me a story about overseas visitors who recently got out of Sydney's airport terminal and asked a taxi driver to take them to where the Aboriginals were.

The taxi driver, not knowing where to go, took the unsuspecting tourists to the deserted streets of Woolloomooloo - a place he thought was where Aboriginals were.

"No, not here," the passengers said. So the taxi driver took them to Red-fern's Eveleigh Street, and left them there, to see where the Aboriginals lived. Wouldn't it be nice if the taxi driver had somewhere to take the tourists, eager to learn about Australian history. Seeing Redfern kiddies laugh and learn from Mundine was pretty special. Let's hope the centre will get the go ahead so others can learn too.

Source: Central of 19 March 2008