Memorial Plaque Speech
by Robert Welsh, Chairperson,
My Fellow Brothers &
Sisters of
I thank you for sharing today with the
Cameraygal people.
I must acknowledge the Traditional Custodians
and Elders of the Eora Nation, and all other Custodians and Elders of all
Aboriginal nations and clans throughout the length and breadth of this ancient,
spiritual and most beautiful of lands on this planet.
Firstly:
I acknowledge and thank Her Excellency,
Professor Marie Bashir for attending and giving dignity to the unveiling of
this plaque on behalf of all people, all cultures, all religious beliefs and
all languages that make
I am here today as an elected representative of
Sydney Aboriginal Peoples including the Cameraygal.
Secondly:
I would like to thank the people who had the vision
that ‘Truth’ is what is important today and that it is ‘Truth’ which will be
the guiding star for our future generations.
Today would not have happened but for the
dedication and hard work of the following people: I personally thank the Lane
Cove Historical Society; Lane Cove Residents for Reconciliation; Lane Cove
Council; and the organization that I speak for today, namely the Metropolitan
Local Aboriginal Land Council.
When one looks at the recorded history of this
country there are huge gaps that exist, or which are an outright denial of what
actually occurred. Today’s events are an opportunity to start to rectify this
injustice.
It is only through the good will of you, the
citizens of
Where do we go from today depends on you; do we
share the future together, based on respect and understanding or do we allow
the policies of denial and oppression to rule again.
Finally:
This ceremony of cleansing allows the
traditional Aboriginal burial rites for the dead to have meaning and respect.
I hope we will all have learned and journeyed
together today with this first small step, so that tomorrow we will better
understand and respect our differences.
Robert Welsh, Chairperson, MLALC