BEGA Valley Shire Council has used a function at the Umbarra Cultural Centre near Bermagui to again reaffirm its commitment to the Memorandum of Understanding with the Shire's Aboriginal people.
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Last Tuesday's luncheon was organised primarily to introduce Council's new Aboriginal community development officer, Kerry Avery, to local Aboriginal Elders.
However, Councillor Tony Allen (representing Mayor David Hede) and Council's General Manager David Jesson also took the opportunity to reaffirm Council's commitment to the Memorandum, signed in June last year (2001).
Cr Allen urged the Shire's Aboriginal people to "keep the communication going" and said the newly-elected Council would lend a "sympathetic ear".
Mr Jesson said that while Council had travelled "a fair part of the journey" over the past three years, "we know we have a long way to go yet".
He described the Memorandum of Understanding as the "centrepiece" of what had been achieved to date.
The Memorandum between Council and all three Local Aboriginal Land Councils acknowledges that Aboriginal People were the original inhabitants, custodians and Native Title holders of all lands and waters in the Bega Valley Shire and commits Council to "assisting, encouraging and prompting employment opportunities for Aboriginal people in its own workforce and in the broader community."
The document also addresses planning issues and the development of an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA).
The newly-elected Council has already "affirmed and committed itself to the ideals and obligations" contained in the Memorandum of Understanding and at the same time "affirmed actions taken to advance the cause of reconciliation with the Shire's Aboriginal people, which have been put in place over the last two-and-a-half years."
Last Tuesday's function, which included a barbecue, was attended by Aboriginal Elders and representatives of all three Local Aboriginal Land Councils.
They were joined by Cr Allen and Cr Keith Hughes, Mr Jesson and a number of senior staff including the director of environment, planning and development services Garret Barry, director of engineering services Robert Ward, director of corporate and community services Leanne Barnes, human resources manager Rob Cattanach, and manager of administration and design Doug Mein.
Ms Avery was employed by Council in January this year and has played a key role in progressing the Memorandum of Understanding.
She has been acting as a mentor to the five Aboriginal trainees employed across various Council departments earlier this year.
Those present last Tuesday told Council that Ms Avery had the "100 percent support" of the Aboriginal community.
