A SPIRITED Gannawarra Shire Council debate about acknowledging previous Aboriginal settlers has sparked a war of words over wording.
A proposal to acknowledge the traditional custodians prompted one councillor to seek the addition of “pioneers” and another to oppose any acknowledgement.
The debate was in response to a report submitted by community well-being director, Mandy Hutchinson providing an option to adopt an Acknowledgement of Country Statement for council and community members to refer to and use at Gannawarra Shire Council events, official meetings, functions and other special occasions.
It also proposed that council officers continue to work on a Reconciliation Action Plan in partnership with interested councillors and the Kerang Elders Group.
Ms Hutchinson said that council officers had consulted with councillors, Kerang Elders, Gannawarra Youth Council, the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Gannawarra Seniors Advisory Group.
“Feedback has been supportive of council embarking on an exploration of reconciliation options available to it,” she said.
The proposed acknowledgement involved the first speaker, the chair or a council officer offering the Acknowledgment of Country in the following way:
“I would like to take this time to Acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land, and pay my respect to elders both past and present”.
Cr Mark Arians moved to adopt the proposal, stating that it was highly appropriate.
“[Aboriginal people] live alongside us and this area has some of the most significant artefacts and evidence of early settlement in existence,” he said.
Cr Brian Gibson seconded the motion, but took issue with wording in the report referring to “traditional owners.”
“They are traditional custodians. They are not owners, they were here, like a lot of cultures since,” he said.
Cr Gibson said that it was appropriate in the 21st century that we acknowledged custodians who had cared for the land before us.
Cr Keith den Houting said that it was a “dividing” issue.
“Oscar [Cr Aertssen] and I are both migrants who have adapted to the Australian way of life,” he said.
Cr den Houting proposed an amendment that would add “pioneers” to the acknowledgement and he called for a division, which involved recording all votes.
Cr Neville Goulding opposed any acknowledgement on the grounds that the recent Closing the Gap report had indicated that “we’re not achieving anything.”
“There is a hands-out strategy, but we need to support a hands-up approach,” he said.
Cr Goulding said that he had proposed an Aboriginal traineeship scheme, but had received no support from council, but Cr Arians took issue, stating that the matter had been discussed informally, but never raised in council.
Cr Aertssen said that there were “lots of custodians” of the land.
An amendment proposed by Crs Goulding and den Houting to add “and our pioneers” to the acknowledgement statement only gained the support of Cr Neil Gannon, who ultimately supported the motion adopted by council with the amendment movers dissenting.
The second part of the proposal for council to continue working on a Reconciliation Action Plan was supported by all councillors except Cr Goulding.
Ms Hutchinson said that this broad comprehensive plan reflects the current relationship with the local Aboriginal community, and set actions under the three platforms of relationships, respect and opportunities.
Kerang Elder, Esther Kirby said that the elders group would appreciate acknowledgement of previous custodians.
