Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation

The Logo:
PPCfR commissioned Indigenous artist Susan Naden to design a logo for the group. It was to reflect Indigenous and non-Indigenous people coming together and the Port Phillip area with its land, sea and parks and resulted in the two figures surrounded by black, brown and white-coloured 'hands' that are often used as a symbol of reconciliation, and colours of the land, sea and parks.

Regular meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month 6.30pm,
South Melbourne Community Hub, Fishley Street, (opp police station), South Melbourne. All welcome
Enquiries: rosemary.rule@gmail.com
0418 675 734.

Next meeting:
Dear Friends of Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation, next meeting will be our final formal, virtual meeting for 2020.
It will be via Zoom on Tuesday, 17 November, 6.30pm,
Please email Deb Stewart – deb.stewart33@gmail.com if you’d like to participate.

AGM Chair's Report:
Download 2019 here
Download 2018 here
Download 2016 here
Download 2015 here
Download 2013 here

PPCfR gratefully acknowledges the support of the City of Port Phillip

Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

PPCfR's commitment statement Sept 2014

We, the members of Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation, acknowledge the Yalukit Wilam Clan of the Boon Wurrung as the custodians of the land on which we currently live and work. We pay our respects to their elders both past and present. We recognise the the tens of thousands of years of history, culture and wisdom which preceded the arrival of the white settlers to our region.
We are mindful that when European settlers arrived in our locality they did not seek permission to enter or occupy the land. There was no legitimate treaty. The right to settle and lay claim to the ownership of the land was presumed. That this land was already fully occupied and managed was certainly not acknowledged by our white ancestors and even today is either ignored or conceded with reluctance. The courageous resistence waged by Aboriginal nations across Australia for over a hundred years remains largely invisible in the stories of our past as popularly recalled. At a time when we are regularly reminded of the 60,000 Australian lives lost away from home during the first world war, little mention is made of the heroism and sacrifice represented by the 30,000 Aboriginal lives lost at home during the extended period of white settlement.

PPCfR is committed first to the task of remembering and acknowledging our ‘inconvenient history’. The local precincts where Aboriginal clans once gathered now lie under shops, houses and car-parks. Special places and sacred sites have been desecrated. Families and extended families have been decimated, fragmented and scattered by the policies of our forbears.

We are committed to restitution and reconcilition. We see value in treaty making. We support an Aboriginal-led process towards the Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians. We accept responsibility first to listen to the Aborinal community and then work together in genuine partnership. We lament the unacceptable gap in living standards - whether in health, education, employment, housing or life expectancy - between Australia’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. The reunification of Aboriginal families is far from complete and sadly will only ever be partial. We are committed to working alongide the Aboriginal community doing whatever we can towards closing this gap.

The City of Port Phillip has etablished our city’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) which we applaud and support. We encourage other organisations whether schools, community service organisations, faith communities or businesses, to develop their own RAPs.

Note: PPCfR is an active local community group that has been operating since 1997.

Dismantling the Land Rights Act (NT) 1976
I express my deep concern at the actions of the Abbott Government as evidenced by the behaviour of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion, in hastily procuring MOUs on township leases for 99 years in Gunbalanya and Yirrkala in recent weeks. He is quoted as saying that this was part of a blitz to encourage other communities around the country to sign similar deals.

There is no evidence of general consultation with the communities concerned and the haste associated with the process would suggest that there has been no time for reflection or the obtaining of legal and other advice as to the advisability of what the Government proposes. The process therefore places unfair pressure on the communities concerned.

What these leases involve is the handing over of hard fought entitlements to lands to the Government for at least four generations for what would appear to be short term gains. A 99 year lease is regarded by most people as an effective surrender of title. It is a decision that requires careful and mature consideration and not one taken in response to a fly in fly out Government ‘blitz’.

Our Madayin-Law is upheld by the Ngurringgitj-Tradition in the land. A lease that takes control of the land means we are giving away our Law and our identity. We will have nothing to live for. We will become fringe dwellers. Our land can never simply be exchanged for monetary gain.

Government behaviour thus far is consistent with that of its many predecessors in trampling over the rights of Aboriginal people and treating them as second class citizens. It also flies in the face of consultation recommendations of the Australian Human Rights Commission aimed at consensus decision- making, which two Parliamentary Committees have endorsed, including one of which Senator Scullion was a member. It is also inconsistent with the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to which Australia has endorsed.

I call on other Aboriginal Communities to reject the Government’s overtures involving any changes unless and until they abide by culturally appropriate protocols and undertake to give the communities access to independent advice, including legal advice at the Government’s expense.

Rev. Dr Djiniyini Gondarra OAM, 6th November 2013.

For further information, visit www.concernedaustralians.com

Welcome

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and pay our respects to their ancestors and descendants.

The Boon Wurrung Foundation represents the interest of the descendants of the Boon Wurrung Language group which includes the Yalukut Willam the traditional owners of the City of Port Philip.
For more information, your booking needs and feedback please go to www.boonwurrung.org.au

History

Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation Inc. (PPCfR) is a voluntary, not for profit community group. It began in 1997 at a public meeting, at St Kilda Town Hall, convened by Jacki Willox and attended by hundreds of people, including politicians, councillors, indigenous musicians and general public.

Objectives

* To maintain local awareness of the reconciliation agenda, recognising that information, understanding and community discussion are integral to the process.
*promoting an understanding of the history of Aboriginal people, particularly in our local area.

News

PPCfR member Vivienne McCutcheon congratulates Judith ‘Aunty Jacko’ Jackson, winner of the Frances Penington Award, 2019 Victorian Government’s Social Housing Volunteer Awards.

City of Port Phillip Deputy Mayor Cr Tim Baxter presented PPCfR with a Certificate of Appreciation in acknowledgement of the group's work within the community at the Annual General Meeting, 26 November 2019.

MC Keith Gove, Diana David, CEO Reconciliation Victoria; (rear), Boon Wurrung Foundation Elder Janet Galpin; academic, author, singer/songwriter Richard Frankland. They spoke at 'Treaty-A Community Conversation' forum, St Kilda Town Hall, 22 August, hosted by PPCfR and supported by RecVic, City of Port Phillip and Reconciliation Stonnington.

The Forum guests - around 140 - listening to the speakers outlining Victoria’s Treaty process, and its ultimate significance to us all.

Among the 100+ guests at this year's Sorry Day lunch were Pirritu Brett Lee (singer); Dennis Fisher, (MC and PPCfR Co-Chair), Judith Jackson (Elder) and Diana David (CEO, Reconciliation Victoria).

Pictured at the 2018 AGM: Todd Condie, Dennis Fisher, Morris Stuart and Judith Jackson.

2018 Reconciliation Writing Competition
Congratulations to the 18 primary, secondary school students and adult winners in the 2018 Port Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation's Writing Competition who wrote on the theme 'Don't keep history a mystery'. They were joined by family, friends and teachers to receive their prizes at the awards ceremony at the Avenue Bookstore, Albert Park on 16 October.
Among them was Jeanine Arthur, presented with the $500 adult category first prize by sponsor Graeme Wilson of Wilson Agents; and Alex Gurvich, 3rd place getter Prep Years 3-4, who received his prize from Todd Condie, Indigenous Policy Officer at the City of Port Phillip.

All the finalists received a certificate, prize money and a complimentary copy of the booklet showcasing all the winning entries.
Download a copy of the booklet here

2018 National Sorry Day Lunch
Singer/story teller Dave Arden captivated the 100 plus guests at PPCfR's 2018 Sorry Day lunch at the South Melbourne Community Centre held on 25 May.

Dennis Fisher, Judith Jacko Jackson, Rosemary Rule, Gael Wilson, Leila Gurruwiwi, Richard Frankland, John Wayne Parsons outside the StKilda Town Hall for the 20th year celebrations of the formation of PPCfR.

guests inside the StKilda Town Hall ballroom for the 20th year celebrations of PPCfR

John Wayne Parsons and Richard Franklin on stage performing for the 20th year of PPCfR celebrations

Aunty Jacko, Todd Condie & Digby Hannah on stage at StKilda Town Hall for the 20th anniversary celebrations of PPCfR
Aunty Jacko, Todd Condie (drawing the lucky door prizes) & Digby Hannah (choir conductor) on stage at StKilda Town Hall for the 20th anniversary celebrations of PPCfR

At the Writing Competition awards night 22/11/16. Front: Clare Bradford (judge), Graeme Wilson, Graeme Wilson Real Estate. Elder Judith Jackson, Back: Rosemary Rule (Co-Chair), Jess Allender, Indigenous Coordinator, St Kilda Park Primary School; Todd Condie, Indigenous Policy Officer, City of Port Phillip.w
At the Reconciliation Group Writing Competition awards night 22/11/16. Front: Clare Bradford (judge), Graeme Wilson, Graeme Wilson Real Estate. Elder Judith Jackson, Back: Rosemary Rule (Co-Chair), Jess Allender, Indigenous Coordinator, St Kilda Park Primary School; Todd Condie, Indigenous Policy Officer, City of Port Phillip.

Group photo of attendees at PPCfR Sorry Day lunch
Some of the 80 guests who attended the lunch commemorating National Sorry Day, 26 May 2015, at the South Melbourne Community Centre.

Guests Kate Munro and Sandy Greenwood with singers Brett Lee and Maurial Spearim at National Sorry Day lunch, 26 May 2015, at the South Melbourne Community Centre.

Daniel, Jack Charles and Todd Condie, at the 2014 AGM

Constitutional recognition Forum at Port Melbourne Town Hall Speakers at the Constitutional Reform forum, 29th May, 2014 from left: Richard Frankland, Daphne Yarram, Ian Hamm and Melinda Cliento.

Photo from 2013 AGM Fred Gesha (COPP); Aunty Judith ‘Jacko’ Jackson, Edward Jackson (rear), Todd Condie (COPP). At the 2013 AGM from left: Fred Gesha (COPP); Aunty Judith ‘Jacko’ Jackson, Edward Jackson (rear), Todd Condie (COPP).

Cr Serge Thomann, BoonWurrung Elder Carolyn Briggs, MLC Sue Pennicuik and singer Allyson Walker at the 2013 Sorry Day Lunch

Elder Judith ‘Jacko’ Jackson with special guest Kyle Vander-Kuyp at PPCfR’s AGM, 18/9/2012.

Rosemary Rule, Kyle Vander-Kype Rosemary Rule, Kyle Vander-Kuyp & Noelleen Ward, PPCfR 2012 AGM.

Kyle Vander-Kuyp with PPCfR members at the 2012 AGM.

Aunty Judith Jackson welcomes guests to the 2012 Sorry Day lunch.

local community enjoys opera performance by Tiriki Onus
Local community enjoy opera performed by Tiriki Onus as part of the 2012 PPCfR Sorry Day lunch.

Tiriki Onus, Judith Jackson, Rosemary Rule prepare for the PPCfR 2012 Sorry Day lunch

Council Support

We receive strong support from the mayor and councillors of the City of Port Phillip and an annual Community Services Grant that enables us to continue with a range of public activities. We salute Todd Condie's appointment as Indigenous Policy Officer and his work developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for the Council.

Cr Serge Thomann, elder Judith 'Jacko' Jackson with Sue Pennicuik, MLC, Southern Metropolitan region, at the Sorry Day lunch hosted by PPCfR on 25 May 2012.

City of Port Phillip Mayor Rachel Powning, Boonwurrung elder Carolyn Briggs and Todd Condie, COPP Indigenous Policy Officer, at the 2011 Sorry Day lunch Mayor Rachel Powning, Boonwurrung elder Carolyn Briggs and Todd Condie, COPP Indigenous Policy Officer. Sorry Day 2011 lunch.

Strengths

Strong affiliations with key organisations such as Reconciliation Victoria and Australians for Native Title & Reconciliation.
A vital commitment to the reconciliation process.
Our informative monthly newsletter, Mungo, keeps members abreast of the latest news and events.

PPCfR Tour Melbourne Royal Botanical Gardens with Den the Fish
PPCfR members participate in the Aboriginal Heritage Walk at the Royal Botanical Gardens, May 6, 2012.