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Mudgin-Gal – “a true friend in turbulent times”

In NAIDOC Week, when many aspects of Aboriginal life are celebrated, an enthusiastic gathering was held at the Redfern Community Centre on the Block. The special guest for the occasion was Federal Government Minister Tanya Plibersek who had been supporting the Mudgin-Gal Women’s Centre of the Aboriginal Corporation long before she became a Minister reports Dorothy McRae-McMahon in the South Sydney Herald of August 2009.

The Centre is a hub for many creative activities in support of Aboriginal women in the area. It provides specialist counselling and best-practice programs for addressing violence in urban communities and homes. It also runs “yarning circles” which offer a safe place for all sorts of sharing by vulnerable people.

Looking around during the celebration, you could see Aboriginal women, community leaders and quite a few women who were proudly wearing a badge which stated that they were “Virtual Sisters”. This was a recognition that there are some non-Indigenous women who have made a significant contribution to justice and care for Aboriginal women, who are of course, the sisterhood.

Tanya Plibersek addressed those present, beginning by saying that it was a time to share some good news about Indigenous affairs – that there had been a reduction in alcohol consultation on Grut Island, a 60 per cent drop in domestic violence and an 80 per cent decrease in break and enter crime. She said that, even within the United Nations Organisation, people around the world were listening for any good news on these issues. She congratulated Mudgin-Gal for its successful mentoring, leadership development and modelling of successful and appropriate relationships, and concluded by presenting Mudgin-Gal CEO, Bronwyn Penrith, with a framed copy of the “Sorry Day” apology by the Government to the stolen generations.

Ashlee Donahue then shared the very moving story of her journeying through life with support from Mudgin-Gal – travelling through many difficult times and ending up with a university education and a sense of herself as worthy. Mudgin-Gal had been for her “a true friend in turbulent times”.

The gathering ended with grateful thanks to a whole list of people, especially those who had helped to produce the splendid booklet, The Seeding of Hope, which tells of the work of Mudgin-Gal.

Source: South Sydney Herald August 2009 www.southsydneyherald.com.au