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Geelong Deanery |
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The Draft Document for ReconciliationOn 30 July 1999, Ms Evelyn Scott, Chair of the National Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR), visited Geelong. In her address to the Geelong One Fire Reconciliation Group, she gave a context to the CAR’s Draft Document for Reconciliation, which has now been released for public discussion. This document attempts to express the aspirations of both indigenous and non-indigenous Australians for our future as a nation. Ms Scott emphasised both the ideal and the practical aspects of the reconciliation process, of which this document is a part. Partnerships at business and community level designed to overcome Aboriginal disadvantage are of vital importance to the achievement of national unity. But the document, according to Ms Scott, appeals to our hearts as well as our minds: ‘We are asking both the Indigenous and wider community to take big steps with their hearts. If Australia adopts our document, then our non-Indigenous citizens will sincerely apologise for the injustices of the past and, in an equally big step, our Indigenous citizens will accept that apology.’ And the meeting of hearts, she said, should not be grudging: ‘The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation believes there’s no place for grudging concessions or half-hearted acknowledgments in the national document. It should be a rousing, joyful statement that proclaims Australia to the world as a united, decent and mature nation.’ Most people will find it hard to disagree with these sentiments – indeed, Christians will see in the quest for reconciliation a striving to hasten the Rule of God in our country. The people of Geelong will have an opportunity to respond to the Draft Document for Reconciliation in a public meeting on Thursday, 7 October (details will be advertised in the local press and parish bulletins). Indeed, the future of the reconciliation process is up for determination since, under the terms of its Act of Parliament, CAR goes out of existence on 1 January 2001. If you want to comment on any of this, do come along to the meeting on 7 October. Michael Leahy |
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