2017

A very happy and prosperous 2017 to my viewers.

May the Force be with you.


GD

Has anything changed II

I was stunned to listen to a very good friend of mine pay out on the City of Fremantle shifting the 2017 Australia Day celebrations to signal to our Aboriginal brothers and sisters that we recognise the 26 January 1788 was not a good time for the indigenous inhabitants.  The cultural disruption began almost immediately with it reported that the Aboriginals around the first settlement could not understand how the whites caught a lot of fish and did not share.  Some of their tribal lands were immediately annexed.

There were Aboriginal heroes in various parts of Australia as each state colony was established.  In my own city of Perth there was the famous Yagan who is now recognised as a hero who stood up for his people.  The Queensland Aborigines were a determined group of tribes that fought against the invading settlers and as a result suffered hideous consequences.

Yet in that same City of Fremantle I often observe Aboriginal persons shouting at each other across the street and generally causing some fear in the general population.  Perhaps the Fremantle Councillors hoped that their action would calm the hurt that is manifest frequently amongst the local indigenous population.

It's a tough issue.

Currently there is a Royal Commission (RC) inquiry into the detention of young persons, mainly Aboriginal, in the Northern Territory.  The RC was brought on by our Prime Minister after TV footage of what must be seen as inhumane treatment of young inmates was shown on our screens across the nation.

It's a tough issue.

There is lots of positive evidence of Aboriginals who have "made it".  They are lawyers, doctors, diesel mechanics, national park rangers, senators and the list goes on.  Despite this there are more Aboriginals proportionately than other groups locked up in our jails.

It's a tough issue.

Come on Prime Minister Turnbull link up with the Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten and keep moving forward to eliminate the hurt, the sickness the domestic violence that plagues many indigenous Australians.  Part of the mending should be a federal government TV campaign that educates the general population about the past and asks for understanding and actions by individuals.

May the Force be with our First Australians.

GD

Has anything changed?

Today I watched an Australian Press Club address and heard the horrific stories about domestic violence amongst my indigenous brothers and sisters.  I hasten to add there is much domestic violence in non-indigenous communities.  However my concern in this blog is for the First Australians.  A view was put forward by three significant Aboriginal women of male indigenous persons wanting to maintain a sort of secretive indigenous world that either does not want to or can't cope with other cultures in Australia. It was stated that being a part of this secretive world allowed the males to perpetrate violence against their womenfolk and children.  These perpetrators hide behind this culture which requires cover up for such acts of violence.  I had never thought of it this way and was so impressed with the outspoken Aboriginal woman who put forward this view.

Lo and behold the next day in my local paper The West Australian (18 November, 2016, p12), appeared an article "Violent indigenous men 'play the cultural card'". It was a detailed report of the Press Club address.  It is worth a read.

This sits in a context of the recent pressures on a well known cartoonist for indicating in his sketch that an Aboriginal father was too intoxicated to know his own son.  I can understand the hurt this created for those Aboriginal dads who love and nurture their families in a safe and happy environment.  However some recent figures reported in my daily newspaper supported the view that it was often difficult to find a responsible parent to take in hand a child who was off the rails or just not cared for in the way one would expect.

Adjacent to this article on p12 was another "Reports on Aboriginals lambasted' which basically indicated that the reports in the last 15 years were just dust gatherers. It was indicated that a weakness in implementing these reports (42 in number) was the lack of consultation with Aboriginal people and/or that it had not been done with cultural sensitivity.

One has to despair that there are still negative outcomes from 1788 and the following years of Aboriginal dispossession. Of course Aboriginals want to be immersed in their culture as well as embracing other 21st century cultures, managing say a tricky bi-cultural existence.  I take my hat off to Aboriginals who can do this.  This does not excuse the violence of some Aboriginal men, too many it seems, against their womenfolk and children.  Here and now the 21st century tells us that we have a United Nations Declaration of Basic Human rights that transcends all cultures. Maybe there is a way to bring possible violence perpetrators to understand and want to live by this Declaration.


Enough already!


GD

Another inquiry into high incarceration rates for Indigenous Australians

Another inquiry.  It should be welcomed but since the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Inquiry years ago the incarceration rates have increased.

I heard Senator Pat Dodson welcome the inquiry but he reminded us that things have to change out in the communities in health and education.  Senator I respect you deeply and we need leaders like you to tell us what to do.  Along with the other great indigenous leaders give us an action plan that the federal and state governments and their oppositions must take on board acting in a bipartisan way.

All Australians I hope are frustrated that so many indigenous Australians are locked up often for things like failure to pay fines.

Enough already!



GD

Hearing Health

I can't believe reports this week that middle ear hearing loss is still a major health problem for young indigenous persons. This has been an issue for years now and should have been eradicated by 2016.

How was it that this problem well known to school teachers in the remote communities has gone on being an issue.  The medical fix is usually a simple application  of grommets to the ears.

What are we doing in the health service delivery to indigenous youngsters?

Get with it state and territory governments and the federal government.  There is too much talk and not enough action.


Enough already!


GD

Health in Indigenous Australia

Today in an ABC News Ticker it was stated as follows:

"One third of 'disease burden' suffered by indigenous Australians 'preventable'.

A serious worry, but at this stage I have no more detail.  Is it funding? Is it delivery of the relevant medical services?  Is it a problem that many indigenous Australians do not present to receive the medical services available? Is it a lifestyle matter that results in the onset of these diseases?

Is it a combination of all or some of the above?

I'll update this post when and if I can find more detail.

Whatever it is I hope that it can be addressed and quickly.


GD

A Simple but Telling Act

It was reported in my local newspaper how an Aboriginal father out having a coffee with his family overheard two elderly ladies at a nearby table being somewhat discriminatory about indigenous Australians.  As he left the restaurant he ordered a pot of tea for the two ladies and had it delivered to their table with a message that it was from the Aboriginal family that had been sitting near them.  Apparently it caused the ladies considerable embarrassment.

Well done Aboriginal dad.  A peaceful, constructive way to make a telling point about the discrimination that lingers in Australian society.

Come on fellow Australians get over it and recognise the wonder that resides in the psyche of your country's First Australians, who have a deep spiritual affinity with this land that we need to understand and embrace.


GD

Remote Aboriginal Communities

Hi out there young Aboriginal persons.

I've been to almost every remote community in WA as part of my work with the Education Department of WA.  I was always overawed by the remoteness.  I was always worried about what the young would do once they had completed schooling.  I could understand why the pull of the land was a great pressure to stay in country.

Having now retired and been able to reflect on my experiences I say to you young guys and girls out there, go to school regularly and learn all that you can.  Even go away to secondary school if the opportunity is there.  Don't be worried that you will lose your ties with country.  You will never do that wherever you are.  Return to your community from time to time to refresh the cultural links that make you who you are and to be with family.  Be proud of your culture.

If you can learn to walk in the wider cultures outside your own community as well as retaining your links with your community it could be good for you.  It is a difficult thing to ask of anyone but I have a sense that if you can do this you can bring back to your community skills and knowledge that will help.  Especially you can make sure that the elders can feel proud and not disillusioned with the discrimination and cultural disruption that they have experienced in the past. They can leave this Earth with a sense of pride that they have got through all the bad times.

Your strength can bring a way of peaceful and fruitful living for your community members even though you go back out to the wider communities in which you may now live and work.

Teach the wider communities what it is to be one with country.  So many Australians do not take the time nor do they have the opportunity to understand this. Preserve your language so that you are bilingual for in this language resides the heart of your culture, your stories, your history passed on by word of mouth.

Teach disaffected Aboriginal youth who you come across that life wasn't meant to be short, brutish and ugly.  Committing crimes and constantly breaking the law is no way to live.  Drugs are no help in living a happy fulfilled life.  Lift your peers up to be one again with their lands, to be proud to be one of the First Peoples of Australia and to know that all true non-indigenous Australians respect you as their brothers and sisters.



GD

Hullo Aboriginal Youth

I'm worn out talking about the politics of indigenous affairs even though that is important.  I want to spend time talking to indigenous youth.

During my years as a professional educator I had a lot of happy contact with young Aboriginal persons. I now despair when I read of the numbers of young Aboriginal youth who are in prison and of those who have taken the extreme measure of suicide.

Listen you guys out there  I've wondered over the years from my contacts with you as students in schools that I had responsibility for, whether you carried a sense of having to keep up some sort of a fight against the non indigenous peoples of our great land.  It would be understandable that your parents, uncles and aunties had told you of the discriminatory experiences that their forebears and they themselves had suffered.  They may even have expressed anger and frustration that it seemed to be around even in this 21st century.  Be that as it may I am sure that these your loving guardians as you grow up would not want you to be acting up at the pointy end of criminal activity.  Rather they would want you to work for your Aboriginal brothers and sisters to find a respected place within the various communities of Australia.

There is so much to be done to ensure that the indigenous peoples of this land, the First Peoples, can walk with heads held high proud of who they are and respected by all Australians.  You young guys and girls are the future of indigenous Australia in sport, in business, in the arts and in politics.  There is no time to waste.  It is you who will educate non indigenous Australians to understand how your people are of the land and how much this means in your culture.  You need to preserve your history inclusive of language(s).  Only you can do it.  Only you can convince your peers to live lawful lives and to contribute to the advancement of indigenous Australia.

A very important job is that you look after your elders who have experienced the worst of cultural disruption.  You need to do everything in your power to help these elders to have optimism that at last  non indigenous Australia is beginning to get it in respect of their indigenous brothers and sisters.  Your old ones deserve to have some degree of reassurance in their final years that all is not lost.

Remember that there are now many Australians who have migrated here from many lands and these people may have only a minimal understanding of the story of indigenous Australians from 1788 when a bunch of convicts arrived from England on the shores of NSW.  These new Australians if you like need education from you guys, need help to understand indigenous history and culture(s).

Go for it young Aboriginal people.  Rejoice in what each of you can do positively as individuals and collectively.  Respect for who you are is growing, make no mistake, but more remains to be done.

Enough already!

GD

Making Progress

As a super optimist I am hoping that the federal government, opposition and cross benches will act together to expedite progress for the indigenous peoples of Australia.  I note already that Tony Abbott and John Howard are arguing against a treaty.  I hope John Howard's influence on politicians is waning but I acknowledge his right to a private opinion.

I also hope that the Australian people when they are offered a referendum vote to recognise the first Australians in the constitution will vote yes.  I was in the past very confident of a yes vote but now am worried by the weighty views that it won't be a done thing, inclusive of concerns from the indigenous communities.

All this in a context of continuing high rates amongst indigenous youth of incarceration and suicide.

All this in a context of rumblings that government support for the continuation of many remote communities will be withdrawn.  If this occurs and these communities cease to exist it will be another blow for the elders who have put up with the shattering of their cultures since 1778.

Enough already!


GD

Bennelong

The blog name Bennethon was inspired by the intriguing Aboriginal Bennelong who was able to live astride two cultures the newest to him being the incursion of convicts under Governor Arthur Phillip in 1788.  The ...thon was to signify the marathon it has been and still is in enabling the return of dignity and self determination to the indigenous peoples of Australia.  A bit too obtuse readers might claim.  Anyhow there it is for what it is.

I love reading about Bennelong and walking around Bennelong point in Sydney.


Enough already!


GD

Talk of a Treaty

Bill Shorten and Malcolm Turnbull have been in discussion about the pending referendum on Constitutional recognition of indigenous Australians.  Bill has in addition come out and spoken about a Treaty as well.  I think the last main proponent for a Treaty was Bob Hawke.

What do we all think of the Treaty idea?  New Zealand did it a long time ago.

Comments anyone?


GD

The Horrors of a Northern Territory Youth Detention Centre

In our country of Australia we have just seen how young criminals in a youth detention centre in the Northern Territory have been brutalised.  These youngsters, mainly indigenous youth, have committed criminal acts including violence yet we choose to punish them with more violence from their warders.  It is sickening.

Our Prime Minister to his credit has immediately instituted a focused Royal Commission to quickly get to the bottom of this culture of punitive violence.

I heard indigenous leaders react with horror to what they have seen in the Four Corners Program on the youth detention centre.  I like what Warren Mundine said about stopping the criminal acts as the front line for fixing the problem of the appallingly high rates of indigenous incarceration.  I understood him to mean to get action into the communities from which the young offenders come, such that the senior community members take up the challenge to raise their youth in a culture of peaceful living.  I imagine in my dreams warrior elders, men and women, walking amongst their people and somehow drawing them into a style of living that isn't short brutish and ugly.  Self determination is the go.

Such self determined action won't suddenly heal the wrongs of the 1788 invasion, but it will help, especially in a context of recognising the first Australians in the Australian Constitution.

I say again that we need a group of indigenous leaders that represents the various indigenous communities across Australia to have a voice on the floor of the Federal Parliament.  This group of what I call the Philosopher Kings and Queens of the indigenous peoples should sit with the parliament at least twice each year and the elected MPs should have to sit and listen to what is needed for self determination. All other parliamentary business should be suspended.  The emerging actions should receive bipartisan discussion and swift decision making across both houses of the Federal parliament.  Any indigenous representative who is too shy to speak for cultural reasons such as language, could have the help of someone by their side interpreting and getting the message across.

The high level indigenous group I recommend is not to be body that receives government funding for projects and that manages large amounts of government money.  I don't want this group to be open to accusations of not using government funds wisely.  I want them to be above this and above political affiliations.

I have written to federal politicians about my scheme but get back the typical letter from a public servant explaining to me all the wonderful things the government is doing in indigenous affairs.  Nothing is substantially changing for my indigenous brothers and sisters.  We the great unwashed need to be able to get through the public service barrier and have the pollies themselves respond.  I'd rather them tell me my idea won't work with an explanation of why not rather than have the public service standard response.

Enough already!


GD

Noted in the press on 30/07/2016 that the NT Centre in question had been closed for some time and that there were reports of the abuse available.  This is even more worrying.  Facts are known, reports get written and nothing much changes.  There is no doubt that indigenous incarceration rates need to be tackled at the grass roots community level in order to reduce criminal activity.  A lot of guts, determination and bipartisanship is needed right now from the pollies.  Right now, not tomorrow or next week.

Enough already!

GD

Noted on 2/07/2016 that the government has now decided to have Mick Gooda as a commissioner for the Royal Commission to represent indigenous concerns as well as a new legal commissioner.  the original choice for Commissioner withdrew because of possible conflicts of interest.  Having Mick there is something that a lot of people wanted.


Enough already!

GD

WA State Government about to launch a new plan

The WA State government is about to launch a new plan to assist regional remote indigenous communities to survive and prosper (See several relevant articles in the West Australian newspaper of  14 July 2016.).

The plan is a step away from the Barnett government's statement of some months ago that foreshadowed the closing down of many of the remote communities.  This came as a result of the Federal government indicating that it would cease to fund the states for these communities to the tune of many millions of dollars.

The new plan is for some $200 million plus of state government money to be available over several years to assist communities in housing, education, jobs and health.  Remote communities that want to survive must show that they have a high school attendance rate and at least one member of each of its families in a job in order to tap into this funding.  The planners are using models from communities that already meet these sorts of criteria and hope that the model will be taken up by other communities. I fear that very remote communities will disappear.

Only time will tell if this plan works.  Having visited almost every remote community in WA as an educator with the Education Department of WA I worry that the criterion of job availability may be very hard for some communities to meet.  If a very remote community does not have access to job opportunities will it fail to survive?  I feel for the old people who understandably cling to their land and don't want to see their community numbers depleted with the young moving off to find work.

Is there some way to transition the elders so that they don't become broken hearted if their community fails to survive as such?  They have suffered enough from the cultural disruption of white settlement.

I can't even bring myself to think of a community shutting down and leaving the elders in limbo.


GD

NAIDOC WEEK

NAIDOC Week is here again.  I watch with joy the various celebrations of indigenous culture.  I trust it will be a good NAIDOC week for all indigenous Aussies and an informative one for all non-indigenous Aussies.


GD

Welfare card - no cash

In the West Australian newspaper of the weekend of 2 and 3 July 2016, Andrew Forrest made a plea for more widespread use of welfare monies being available through a card and not in cash. He cited locations where this has been tried and how the drug buying dropped and even one case where the major dealer left the area.  It seems the women feel they have more control using this card such that their men cannot get the cash and go off and buy drugs and/or alcohol.

My pragmatic streak finds me agreeing with Mr Forrest.  If his suggestion contributes to breaking the poverty cycle of indigenous communities where poverty abounds then well and good.  My altruistic streak bemoans that it has come to this when in a democracy where individuals make choices within the law the freedom to have cash and spend it how one likes is denied.

Andrew Forrest also tries to employ indigenous persons with his capacity to make a difference in this area.  As a retired educator who as part of his career visited almost every remote indigenous community in WA I worried on each visit about how much education we were really getting done.  Low attendance rates were the worst feature with the teachers making enormous efforts to provide a relevant education culturally tweaked to be appropriate to the location.  Even if we were winning on the struggle to sheet home the education I feared that for this who felt the ties of the community so strongly that they wanted to live out their lives at that location, what were they to do each day?

Of course they could hunt for traditional food as they used to in times gone by.  They could teach their young the ways of the traditional culture including the local language.  This would be ideal giving purpose to life each day.  Unfortunately such ambitions were usually contaminated by the worst features of the non-indigenous society that had annexed the traditional lands.  Poor food choices, poor health facilities, the scourge of alcohol and other drugs were mostly too strong and overpowered the desire to live the traditional life enhanced by the best that could be taken from the indigenous cultures.

Some communities adapted and have pastoral, mining and land care involvement and can be self sufficient and be free to make decisions about their lives.  Unfortunately many communities do not have these situations and domestic violence, youth suicide and seriously high rates of incarceration exist.

The federal parliament of our country needs a direct avenue whereby they can listen to the communities, tune into their needs and suggest self determined solutions, then through bipartisan action work to put those solutions into place.  This direct avenue is an honorary body of revered indigenous leaders from the local areas meeting with the parliament at least twice per year.  Normal parliamentary business would be suspended to provide a serious and respectful act of listening by the parliamentarians.  They must be open minded and not expect one size fits all solutions.  The revered leaders like the Dodson brothers, Noel Pearson, Rosalie Kunoth-Monks are the great persons of whom I write. They are the Philosopher Kings and Queens of our diverse indigenous nation and as in Plato's day are to be listened to with respect and reverence.

I am like a cracked record on this matter and will continue to push for this group as described.  We see signs of such in the group reviewing and commenting on constitutional recognition for indigenous persons.

I am a technological novice who doesn't know how to work the hustings to get support for my suggestion.  I am aware of Facebook and Twitter but am nervous about committing to these social media behomoths.   There are smart technical savvy people out there who could lead the way.



GD

Soaring Kimberley youth suicide rate

I am saddened to read the article:  Chapman Murray, "Soaring Kimberley youth suicide rate demands attention," The West Australian, 28 June 2016, p19.  To quote:

"Rates of indigenous suicide in the Kimberley over the past 10 years were seven times the national average."  The national rate is 12 suicides per 100,000 people while rates in the Kimberley are 74 people per 100,000.

Professor Chapman indicates that "Indigenous suicide may be considered one of the 'downstream effects of the processes involved in colonisation followed by further cultural disruption in the wake of the efforts to recolonise."  Against this scenario he writes:  "....suicide appears to have been unknown in traditional indigenous society."  He cites indigenous youth being the group most at risk.  On top of this Professor Chapman indicates high rates of suicidality behaviours such as self harm among indigenous populations at 10 times those experienced by the non-indigenous population.

To read this on the eve of a Federal election almost devoid of any voiced commitments to indigenous affairs is a dreadful irony.  Bill Shorten did indicate that he is proud that there are more indigenous Labor candidates for this election than ever before.  If elected they face a massive challenge to address problems such as Professor Chapman's article reveals.

I still hold to my position that the Federal Parliament should have an honorary body of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prominent persons representing the various indigenous communities across Australia.  These leaders should be allowed to sit with the House of Representatives at least twice each year and be able to state their problems to the whole parliament which must listen then act in a bipartisan way.  The normal business of the House would be suspended for the period of these meetings as a sign of respect that the whole nation is listening and is prepared to act together to right the wrongs for indigenous Australians.  I ask for such a revered group with its members not restricted by political party affiliations even though some of its members might happen to be elected state or federal politicians for example Pat Dodson a senator in the WA upper house.  These respected persons are the Philosopher Kings and Queens of their people and parliament must listen.

My plan is radical but nothing ventured nothing gained.  We are not winning at the moment and indigenous persons are dying by their own hand or earlier than would be expected and indigenous youth is being incarcerated at an alarming rate. We must get the local community views directly into the parliament not have them filtered/trickled in through layers of people.

Help me gather momentum for what I have suggested.



GD

Sydney : 1788/2016

More poetry.  Another sonnet.  I can't help myself and once again apologies to all good poets.

Sydney : 1788/2016

Wind sighing in that quiet green place

Waves lapping on white sand shore

Tribes living free by ancient law

Furtive dark eyes from craggy face

Peer bemused at that urgent race

That grunts and pulls as it seeks ever more

From that unblemished pristine shore

I am silent, still, as a city gathers pace

The bridge, the bustle, about to gush

White, brown and black for life do claw

Towards their goals amid the rush

Of the awakening giant with greedy maw

Hopes won, hopes dashed in the selfish push

For understanding, love, amid traffic’s roar Enough already! GD

1788

I humbly offer this sonnet I penned some time ago with apologies to all good poets:

Australia Day - The Terra Nullius Excuse

Webs shimmering in the dewy morning air

Wisps of smoke from dwindled fires

Bird calls from leafy lofty spires

He stands tall, lean, one-legged there

On rocky headland salt-sprayed bare

What strange craft on sea swell mires

The calmness of these homeland shires

They come these harbingers of despair

Strange ways and customs do they bring

Taking anything and all they need

No talk or bargain was there made

They must away their death we sing

Tithing our land with evil greed

Mysterious arrogant force displayed

Enough already!

GD

A Treaty

Heard Bill Shorten say today that he would support a Treaty once the constitutional recognition of Australia's First Peoples has occurred.

This is good news but the bad news is the fighting and unrest in the Aurukun community in the north east of Queensland.  The teachers have been pulled out and the schooling has gone over to distance education offerings.  A report stated:  "Twenty-five teachers and staff are leaving Aurukun after the principal of Noel Pearson's Cape York Academy had his car stolen by a group of youths, one who was brandishing an axe."  It's a major worry.

GD

2016 Federal Election

It's on again!  The Pollies are out and about and currently the polls have it neck a neck.

As part of this hive of activity the referendum to recognise Australia's first peoples in the Australian Constitution is under detailed discussion by a select group of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal persons.

I hope it gets done.  I recently heard some of the select group discuss the progress of the referendum and was heartened.

I am confident that the recognition will occur but not so confident that things will change on the ground for those indigenous Australians still experiencing very adverse living conditions which in some cases are third world and a blight on our society.

GD

Senator Pat Dodson

Senator Dodson.  It has a nice ring to it to know that this great Aboriginal leader is in the WA senate.  Can't wait to see his influence have a telling effect where it counts for his people and in other general matters of governance.

Pat Dodson is a Philosopher King of his people and Australia must listen to him and others of the same order of wisdom.

The bad news is that the suicide and incarceration rate amongst Aboriginal youth is high.  There must be an answer!

I feel so powerless as a non-indigenous Australian to assist the Aboriginal cause.  I did what I could in my career as an educator but now in retirement just sit and rejoice in the good news stories and cry over the bad news stories that predominate the evolution of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.  I know that the solutions lie with the Aboriginal people but I long to help and don't know how to do this.  "Moan, moan", I hear you say.  "Get of your backside and find out what you can do!"
It doesn't seem to be that easy given the suspicion with which Aboriginal people understandably regard we non-indigenes.  I still remember walking through classrooms of Aboriginal children and hearing the whispers of Watjala (white man).

Go for it my indigenous brothers and sisters.  Find the solutions and if nobodies like me can help by just teaching someone the skills of learning seek us out.  I would help with no sense of wanting one ounce of gratitude or kudos. I owe it to you my indigenous brothers and sisters because my forebears took your lands away from you and mangled your many cultures.

GD (Stands for Grandad as I am well and truly an elder of my tribe)