For the first time in Temora Shire Council’s history, an ‘Acknowledgment of Country’ will be made at the start of its ordinary meetings.
The move comes after council adopted its Code of Meeting Practice last week.
Submissions received during a public exhibition of the code revealed resounding support for the ‘Acknowledgement of Country’.
Thirteen formal submissions were made, with ten of those in favour including Temora West Public and Temora High School.
Three submissions were opposed.
Despite support from the community, adopting the policy at last Thursday night’s November meeting wasn’t without debate.
“I’m not in favour of this,” Cr Max Oliver told the chamber.
“It’s already triggered some division in the community.
We’re in the process of putting ‘Wiradjuri Country’ on shire signs so I don’t know what having this acknowledgement at the start of meetings is going to achieve.
“The national anthem was changed from the phrase ‘young and free’ to ‘one and free’ some years back.
“Now we have politicians standing in front of three separate flags when they address the public.
We will never be ‘one’ until we move past this. We can’t change what has happened in history,” he said.
Cr Nigel Judd offered a
different perspective on the argument, sharing his experience of hearing about the stolen generation first hand from his indigenous brother-in-law, musician David Hudson.
“Our society isn’t very proud of what has happened to indigenous people and I think acknowledging them in our code of practice is the least we can do,” he said.
Mayor, Rick Firman, praised council and the community for providing respectful views on what proved to be a contentious issue.
But he made it clear that council’s acknowledgement would be inclusive of those from all backgrounds.
“I’m very proud of council for being respectful while providing different and at times opposing views while this was workshopped,” Cr Firman said.
“But, as I’ve indicated before if this motion is passed, I will not be delivering something that has no meaning written by a bureaucrat.
The ‘Acknowledgement’ we will present will have a lot more time and effort go into it. It will capture all of us – our first Australians and every other citizen who is as important as the next.”
Some submissions supporting the move indicated surprise that it hadn’t already become a regular feature of council meetings.
“I find it surprising and disappointing that this practice does not already take place as it does in many other council areas and has done for a number of years,” one submission said.
Another stated, “Nothing is being taken away or devalued by including it. Rather it enriches our community by bringing greater awareness and recognition to the heritage and culture of our region.”
But other submissions say.
“I thought council had far bigger problems to worry about than this, such as the state of our roads,” one said.
Another wrote, “while the intentions behind this may be good, I question whether its over-usage is negating any value that the words might have, and perversely may be re-introducing attitudes of racial differences.”
Council will begin acknowledging first nation’s people from next month’s December meeting.
