Woodford Bay Reconciliation Memorial Ceremony

 

                       'Journey of the Spirit '

 

* 1.45pm: People gather; honour guard of children assemble.

 

* 2.00pm: Arrival of Robert Welsh, Chairperson,

                                           Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council & Party.

 

* 2.15pm: Arrival of Her Excellency, Professor Marie Bashir AC,
                                                                                                 Governor of NSW & Party.

 

* MCs: Ricky Lyons: Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council.

            Charlene Davison: Lane Cove Residents for Reconciliation.

                                   Acknowledgement of Cameraygal Country.

                     Explanation of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal history of the area.

 

* Sacred Smoking Ceremony: Conducted by Budjedi Elder Uncle Max Eulo.

               The Reconciliation Memorial Plaque is cleansed with Sacred Smoke.

 

* Song of Mourning:  Performance on didgeridoo by Matthew Doyle.

 

* The Governor and Robert Welsh walk through the Sacred Smoke to

                                                                   symbolize a cleansing.

* Dance of Mourning:  Performance by the Garrabarra Dance Company.

 

* Sharing of the Sacred Smoke amongst all the people.

 

* Official Addresses:  The Governor of NSW and the Chairperson M.L.A.L.C.

 

* Reconciliation Memorial Plaque:  Joint unveiling by the Governor and the

                                Chairperson, Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council.

            

* Welcome to Country: Charles (Chicka) Madden, Eora Elder, Metropolitan

           Local Aboriginal Land Council; as now  the Cameraygal spirits are free,

               the land is cleansed and at peace; and all present have shared in

                                the Sacred Smoke and in the Ceremony itself.

 

      Through Reconciliation a new beginning is open to us all.

 

* Mayoral Address:  Councillor John May, Mayor of Lane Cove.

 

* 3.30pm: Close of Ceremony:  Kerrie McKenzie, Convenor, Lane Cove    

   Residents for Reconciliation, gives formal  thanks to Elders, Dignitaries, the

   Performers of Ceremony and all who have contributed to and attended this

   most historic Reconciliation Memorial Ceremony  ‘Journey of The Spirit’.

    

Everyone is invited for refreshments and to mingle together in the

                                      Spirit of Reconciliation.

             

     Woodford Bay Reconciliation

Memorial Ceremony

'Journey of the Spirit'

Saturday 7 February 2004:  1.30pm for 2.00pm Ceremony

Woodford Bay, Woodford St, Longueville.

In the presence of Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC

Governor of NSW

This ceremony is layered in meaning.
Traditionally it releases the spirits of the Cameraygal dead who
were denied their religious funeral rites by reason of the British invasion.
Ceremony releases them from limbo; their spirits free at last to
reach their home in the stars to begin their rebirth.

This Ceremony acknowledges the truths of our shared Australian history;
Recognition and Truth are the beginning of all Reconciliation.

 

    Prior to the unveiling of the Reconciliation Memorial Plaque there will be a Sacred Smoking Ceremony, a Song of Mourning

and a Dance of Mourning

 

MEMORIAL PLAQUE TO HONOUR AND RECOGNISE

THE CAMERAYGAL PEOPLE WHO DEFENDED

THEIR COUNTRY BY RESISTING BRITISH INVASION.

 

JOINTLY UNVEILED BY

HER EXCELLENCY PROFESSOR MARIE BASHIR AC

GOVERNOR OF NSW

 

ROBERT WELSH, CHAIRPERSON

METROPOLITAN LOCAL ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL

 

7 FEBRUARY 2004

                          LANE COVE COUNCIL                                        LANE COVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

METROPOLITAN LOCAL ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL       LANE COVE RESIDENTS FOR RECONCILIATION

 

                       COUNCILLOR JOHN MAY                                                               PETER BROWN

                                     MAYOR                                                                          GENERAL MANAGER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Manager   

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



         *Historical Context: (see inside)                               *Program Details: (see back cover)