Reconciliation is in action at Adelaide City Council
Media Release 11 June 2010
This Saturday marks the 10th Anniversary of the Adelaide Walk for Reconciliation, which saw 55,000 people walk over the King William Street Bridge and fill the heart of Adelaide.
In 2000, the Walks for Reconciliation took place all over Australia in support of Aboriginal Australians and reconciliation. Almost a million people across the country were involved, attracting support from Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and other Australians of all ages and from many different backgrounds.
Adelaide City Council and Reconciliation Australia are taking this opportunity to acknowledge reconciliation in action today, which has been actioned primarily through Council’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
Lord Mayor Michael Harbison is passionate about maintaining Council’s commitment to reconciliation.
“Adelaide City Council’s Reconciliation Action Plan is the first to be completed in South Australia by a local government, and has achieved significant positive actions,” said Lord Mayor. “The Plan is important in order to uphold these actions and develop new ways to work towards reconciliation in Australia.”
Adelaide City Council officially acknowledges the traditional owners of this land, the Kaurna people. This recognition is made at the beginning of all Council events, meetings and launches, by the Lord Mayor and any other speakers.
The RAP highlights the importance of Council’s relationship with the Kaurna people. One important aspect of that relationship is the recognition of Kaurna heritage through physical features of the City.
Adelaide City Council conducts consultation with Kaurna communities for all major City projects. Most recently there has been a significant Kaurna influence on the Victoria Square / Tarndanyangga draft masterplan. The proposal includes a Kaurna Centre of Culture that will showcase Kaurna and Aboriginal history and culture.
Reconciliation Australia’s Acting Co-CEO and Reconciliation Action Plan Director, Adam Mooney, said Adelaide City Council is leading the way with its RAP.
“By developing a broad range of opportunities for Council, local businesses, and Kaurna people, they role model what other local governments can do to contribute to reconciliation in their communities.
“Reconciliation Australia congratulates and thanks the Adelaide City Council for promoting reconciliation at a local government level, providing strong leadership and making a positive impact on reconciliation and closing the gap,” Mr Mooney said.
Adelaide City Council promotes the education and awareness of reconciliation by funding many community clubs, groups and organisations. Council works to support activities and events that incorporate the objectives of the RAP, such as National Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week celebrations.
Each year the Lord Mayor hosts a Flag Raising Ceremony of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, to officially mark the beginning of NAIDOC Week on 5 July. The Aboriginal flag is a powerful symbol for reconciliation and hope for many Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people throughout Australia. The first raising of the flag took place in 1971 in Victoria Square / Tarndanyangga, where it is still flown to this day.
A new action taken by Council this year is the addition of Aboriginal artwork on the Rundle Street Lantern. The artist is graduate architect Paul Herzich who created the work for Reconciliation Week. The image features emu feet walking across the screen as it brings to life Paul’s artwork celebrating Aboriginal work and culture.
For more information about the Reconciliation Action Plan program or the 10th Anniversary of the Adelaide Walk for Reconciliation, visit the Reconciliation Australia website at www.reconciliation.org.au or Adelaide City Council’s reconciliation website at www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/reconciliation.
For further information contact Lord Mayor, Michael Harbison Ph 0419 804 896 or Media Relations, Anna Mazzone Ph 8203 7760 or 0427 910 554
