Sunshine Coast Reconciliation Group
By Keith Whisson
Latest Newsletter
Sunshine Coast Reconciliation Group
PO Box 73 Golden Beach 4551 Issue 35/2005
The Group acknowledges and respects the traditional owners and custodians of the land and its waters.
Chairperson. Mick Graham 5492 1587 email jemag@ozemail.com.au
Secretary. Jenny Cronin 5491 1971 email jenny.tony@bigpond.com
Treasurer/Editor. Keith Whisson 5492 1381 4/21 Landsborough Pde, Golden Beach, 4551 email kwhisson@bigpond.net.au
Editorial comment: Keith Whisson
Memberships 2005/2006 now due. Donations always welcome
$5 or concession $3. For details and application see page 4.
2005 Reconciliation Business Forum at Parliament House Brisbane on 8th September.
Editorial Keith Whisson
Chairperson Mick and I attended the 2005 Reconciliation Business Forum followed by the presentation of Reconciliation Awards for business and recognition of Young Indigenous leaders at Parliament House on Thursday 8th September.
I was in unfamiliar territory. Not just because we were at Parliament House, Brisbane. I soon discovered that out of about 110 people, I knew only one personally (Michael J Connolly, who recently opened the Dilly Bag Dreamtime Place at Eumundi) and three by reputation - former Bronco Steven Renouf, whose biography, "The Pearl: Steve Renouf's Story", has been recently published by University of Queensland, and Gerhardt Pearson and Peter
Botsman - more of them later.
And, naturally enough, the focus was on land and mining and regions where Indigenous people predominate. So what can I/we make of this opportunity?
There is support available for Indigenous business and we can identify this and pass on the information. We can identify and in some way support existing and potential Indigenous businesses in our region. If we spell out the criteria for nomination for business awards, some local businesses may aspire to nomination for an award. Councils and major businesses may be encouraged (if they haven't already done so) to adopt protocols of recognition and respect for the Indigenous population. It makes business and ethical sense for visitors, and residents, to have an Aboriginal experience in major tourist attractions - an authentic experience - and to visit Aboriginal entrepreneurs offering their own work. Is this being offered? We can promote it.
And it is dishonest and outrageous for non-Aboriginal people to pass themselves or their work off as Aboriginal. If we identify such deception we can expose it.
The contacts we made are certainly advantageous and more reference to these below.
I commend the State Government and the relevant departments for their initiative in promoting this event.
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The Business Forum.
The business forum was hosted by the State Development and Innovation Department and opened by the relevant Minister and Deputy Premier, the Honourable Anna Bligh.
The forum and business awards were directed at fostering business and employment opportunities for Indigenous Queenslanders. There was a wealth of information and much to digest.
The attendees split into three groups to examine "Land Based Enterprise Development", focusing on using community land to leverage venture capital; "Joint Ventures/Business Partnerships" and "Resourcing Micro-Enterprise Development" I took no part in the first two of these but Mick was in the Joint Venture workshop. My workshop group looked at micro finance for business.
The group convenor was Lew Opie of "First Australian Business" based in Brisbane. "First Australians Business" Enterprise Development Program embraces Discovering Enterprise, Implementing Enterprise and Enterprise Expertise. Discovering Enterprise holds three day intensive workshops fostering participation in business, identifying opportunities and assisting established businesses overcome difficulties. There are follow up programs and mentoring partnerships. Their office is located in Brisbane. They can be contacted on 1800681447. Further information on website www.firstaustralians.org.au
The website includes details of applications to participate in workshops.
Other useful support programs are offered by the Departments of State Development and Innovation and of Employment and Training
Indigenous Business Development Grant Scheme.
Business Establishment Program and Business Capacity Building Program.
These state funded programs are designed to encourage Indigenous individuals and organisations to establish or develop business opportunities to increase economic independence, take up employment opportunities and improve quality of life. Brochures and information are available by contacting the Department of State Development and Innovation on 132650 or visit 108 Brisbane Road Mooloolaba Q 4557.See also www.sdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/ documents/objdirctrled/nonsecure/pdf/14197.pdf
Assistance is also available from the State Department of Employment and Training via the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle program as evidenced from a recent announcement of a grant of $140,400 to Kurbingui Youth Development Association. This is to fund the continued publication of the Brisbane North Indigenous Newsletter, the Kurbingui Star as part of a community jobs plan project.
Contact the Department for further details or see their website www.trainandemploy.qld.gov.au and refer to Indigenous Employment Program.
Stuart Mathison from "The foundation for Development Cooperation" spoke of an international micro finance concept which they assured us had a place in the Australian Indigenous context. To my mind it did not fit. I kept picturing an eastern or middle eastern market where a person might borrow a small sum in the morning to buy, say, a carton of matches which they would sell individually to tourists and repay the money lender at the end of the day. Their website www.fdc.org.au appears to confirm their focus on areas outside Australia.
High powered speakers, Leigh Coleman and Mark Bromley from "Hillsong emerge", spoke of their involvement in fostering Indigenous Australian micro enterprise development with the motto "giving people a hand up not a hand-out". Their method of operation is to form close bonds with potential small business operators before business plans and ultimately finance are in place. They look for highly motivated potential entrepreneurs with viable business plans and they have high expectations of those they support. They believe that if they have low expectations those expectations will be met!
They had a useful message for anyone contemplating a business. Know your product, know your industry and plan meticulously.
As Hillsong emerge is not represented in Southern Queensland I see no ready benefits from this source. A web search identifies Hillsong as a fundamentalist church with a political agenda through the, "Assemblies of God in Australia" and the "Family First" political party.
2005 Reconciliation Awards for Business
and celebration of Young Indigenous Leaders.
Immediately following the forum I, and Chairperson Mick, had been invited by The Honourable Peter Beatty, Premier and Treasurer, to a reception at Speaker's Green, Parliament House for the abovementioned awards and celebration. This was hosted by Premier Beattie.
2005 Reconciliation Awards for Business Award recipients are as follows:
Emerging Business Category Winner: BlackBase Youth Development and Mentoring Organisation.
Encouragement Award: Nunukul Yuggera Aboriginal Dance Troupe.
Employment Category Winner: Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park Highly Commended: Brisbane City Council Encouragement Award: Nunukul Yuggera Aboriginal Dance Troupe
Joint Ventures Category Winner: [Joint winners] Greentime Plantation Services and Northern Project Contracting Special Commendation Award: The Dreaming - Australia's International Indigenous Festival.
The Premier's Reconciliation Award for Business Winner: Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park Highly Commended: Zinifex Century Mine Encouragement Award: Quinkan Regional Cultural Centre and Laura Dance Festival.
The "The Young Indigenous Leaders' Forum", hosted by the Department of Communities, had been meeting for two days prior to the business forum. It brought together 20 young Indigenous people from across Queensland for a program to learn about leadership and connect with other young leaders and mentors.
Mick and I were pleased to discover that among the participants was Dimity Adams of Caloundra. The program records that "Dimity is an 18 year old from Caloundra, who is employed as a trainee in the Department of Housing on the Sunshine Coast. She is interested in exploring issues that Indigenous people face when accessing affordable housing, and education issues including truancy and completion rates for Indigenous High School students. She aspires to see a strong, united Indigenous community on the Sunshine Coast."
Congratulations, Dimity!
Highlights: Interesting attendees.
Mark Johnson, Consultant, Indigenous Operations to Sparke Helmore, Lawyers. Mark is located "west of Maleny". He asked to be placed on contact list and sent greetings to Betty McMahon of Kabbarli.
Richard Johnson, from Gladstone, Managing Director of Nghulin, an Indigenous organisation which creates jobs for Indigenous workers in the production and distribution of QLOXYNTI, a sophisticated horticulture mix in which it is involved as labour supplier and joint partner.
Manfred Claasz, Business Manager with Alice Springs based Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre, linking Indigenous and local knowledge with science and education to improve desert livelihoods.
Gerhardt Pearson, Executive Director of Balkanu, Cape York Development Corporation, Chairman Indigenous Stock Exchange and more. Gerhardt assured me that the finance for development of the concept of franchising of cattle properties in which Peter Botsman and my friend Peter McEntee, see below, were involved, had been secured.
Peter Botsman In the micro-economics forum I asked a question about my freedom to promote a particular strategy through the SCRG newsletter and offered copies to anyone interested. A young man sat down beside me and introduced himself - Peter Botsman. I was aware of Professor Peter Botsman, voluntary secretary of the Indigenous Stock Exchange, former director of the Whitlam, Brisbane and Evatt Institutes and Chief Editor of Australian Prospect. In fact I had a copy of Australian Prospect with me as it carried an article by my friend and Peter's, Peter McEntee, concerning franchising of Indigenous cattle stations. Peter took copies of some newsletters and promptly wrote to me inviting me to submit copies of newsletters for publication on the Indigenous Stock Exchange website www.isx.org.au/
The following is from the ISX website
Our Mission
The five year ISX strategy was initiated in Canberra on May 21, 2003. The Kuku Yalanji Trading Floor was subsequently held in Mossman, North Queensland on August 20, 2003. The primary goal of the entire five year effort is to support the development of 1000 new strong and sustainable indigenous businesses across the country by 2008.
The principal activity of the ISX is the trading floor.
Over the course of a one-day "trading floor", participants put forward their needs for investment and/or mentoring support. The trading floor is divided into three parts: anchor industries - million dollar investment areas that will provide major employment and investment opportunities for indigenous communities; small and medium sized businesses - these are enterprises requiring up to $100,000 in start up capital to develop enterprises with up to 20 people involved; and finally, micro-businesses involving start up capital of between $5,000 and $50,000 for small family based enterprises.
ISX proclaims that it is a market with a difference. The trading floor lists social, cultural and commercial investment opportunities of Indigenous Australia. It invites interested persons to establish Indigenous Business Development group in their area. Contact them info@isx.org.au Phone: 02 44651665for more information.
As each trading floor takes place, ISX participants are establishing regional support networks and ongoing partnerships and alliances.
Update on Production of "Murdering Creek" a Theatrical Music Dance Production supported by Adrian Ross in Concert (Evenings only)
National Indigenous Academy of Theatrical Arts' (Sunshine Coast) presentation of Graduating Students' First Production of "Murdering Creek" at Nambour Civic Centre Friday 28th October 7-30 pm to 10 pm
School performances 9am to 10-15 and 11 am to 12-15.
1860s - Massacre of Aboriginal people at Murdering Creek, Lake Weyba, Sunshine Coast.
Cost for adults is $17.50.Pensioners $14.50 Children/students $12.50 For information or booking contact Adrian Ross as on 0412625130 or book at Nambour Civic Centre.5475 7777.
Reconciliation Queensland Incorporated needs your support and needs it now!
A plea to join or renew and attend AGM on Monday 31st October.
I was delighted to receive an email which contains the following passages. "Despite .... set backs, RQI maintains a fully operational Committee. A working group of four of the Committee members has been busy with ongoing business and strategic planning. Committee member Renee Coffey is now volunteering as the RQI Development Officer and we are currently working with key stakeholders to secure ongoing funding for RQI. The Committee of RQI is still committed, hopeful and working hard to ensure that Queensland's state peak body for Reconciliation remains operational. Presently, we have a number of very promising negotiations underway and look forward to sharing these outcomes when we meet for the RQI Annual General Meeting (AGM)."
Membership fee is $10 or $5 concession. I can supply forms. I am in discussion with RQI regarding collecting subs and proxies to enable the AGM to achieve a quorum.
The AGM will be held on Monday 31st October 2005. Address: Upstairs in the Parish Centre
St John the Baptist Anglican Church171 Oxford Street, Bulimba Report on current status commences 7 pm AGM 7-30pm.
Group meeting Thursday 22nd September
The meeting was pleased to receive a visit and report from Darren Manns and Brocey Fletcher on the progress of a Leadership Training and Team Building programs for local Indigenous youth. The Team building is under way under the leadership of Dale Scott. Darren advised that this will be followed by the establishment of a group including Government representatives leading on to 'Cultural Awareness' and finally to 'How to Run Projects'. There will be three cultural dinners in the three rounds with dancing, song writing and singing concluding with a 'Festival'. Brocey spoke on the continuing activities of dance group Gomurri Umbi. If you cannot contact them, contact me.
Michael and Jo Connolly and Dale Chapman invite you to visit
The Dilly Bag Dreamtime Place
the one stop cultural shop
Authentic Aboriginal Art & Craft by Michael J Connolly, Native Bush Tucker Products by Dale Chapman
71a Memorial Drive, Eumundi QLD 4562 Tel 5442 8888 [shop - Wednesday - Sunday] Office: 3880 1320
Email: kullilla@dreamtime.auz.net Dale Chapman: 5485 1126 Jo Connolly 3880 1320
Bush Tucker workshops. Last Sunday of each month. 1pm to 3 pm at CWA Hall Eumundi. Cost of workshop includes tutorial, recipes, handouts, tastings, plus light refreshments provided on arrival.
October 30th $20 Kangaroo fillet with lilly pilly & red wine glaze. Gumleaf oil sweet potato mash.
Bookings are essential and groups are kept to a maximum of 15 people. Group bookings for other Sundays are available
NEXT GROUP MEETING
The next meeting is to be held at Kabbarli Aboriginal Home and Community Care Association premises 54B William Street, Moffat Beach, at 7pm on Thursday 27th October.
Membership Application
I wish to become a member of the Sunshine Coast Reconciliation Group (Caloundra). Membership expires 30th June
Name (or names).........................................................
Address..........................................................................................................Postcode.......
Phone No Home..................... Work............................ .
E-mail.......................................................................
Subscription....Waged $5.00............Concession (pension, student, beneficiary) $3......... Donations are also welcome. Amount enclosed $..........
Subscriptions to Sunshine Coast Reconciliation Group (Caloundra) include the Minutes, Newsletters and other news and information about significant events.
Enclose cheque or money order and post to: The Sunshine Coast Reconciliation Group, (Caloundra) Unit 4 Golden Shores, 21 Landsborough Parade, Golden Beach, Q 4551.
For further information
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