Indigenous Australians

On 16 June, Marrickville Town Hall was at full capacity for a public forum on the Uluṟu Statement from the Heart.

On 18 June 1997, mere weeks after the release of the Bringing them Home Report, former Premier Bob Carr issued an unreserved apology on behalf of the people of NSW to the Stolen Generations, the first State Government to do so.

I congratulate the Newtown Breakaways Australian Football Club on two wonderful community events: their Indigenous Round in late April and their Frontline Workers Round in early May.

Cricket Clubs across the country, including Inner West clubs, held a reconciliation round this past weekend, acknowledging and celebrating First Nations people.

Each year, local residents generously donate toys and books for my Annual Christmas Toy Drive, with donations going to kids and families supported by AbSec, the NSW Child, Family and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation.

I congratulate Kamilaroi woman and Dulwich Hill local Cheree Toka on her successful campaign to have the Aboriginal flag flown on the Sydney Harbour Bridge year‑round.

The Inner West Council's Gadigal Wangal Wayfinding Project has won the Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Award at the 2021 Local Government NSW Awards. 

Deadly Connections Community & Justice Services is an important Aboriginal-led, not-for-profit organisation which does crucial work that breaks cycles of disadvantage and trauma to directly address the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the child protection and justice system.

I extend my thanks to the staff and volunteers of the Marrickville PCYC who worked with NSW Health to establish a pop-up vaccination clinic.

Reconciliation Week begins and ends on the same dates every year, acknowledging the successful referendum recognising First Nations people on 27 May 1967 and Eddie Mabo's Native Title case on 3 June 1992.