bipacsa_final_report

Conclusion
We are utterly convinced that education (that properly
addresses the needs of the local community) provides the
path to success. We have been dismayed at the miserable
school attendance rates for Aboriginal children and the
apparent complacency here (and elsewhere in Australia)
with that situation.
We are further persuaded that unless alcoholism is
conquered, there is little point in attending to any of the
other worthwhile proposals in this report. It is a priority!
The recommendations proposed in this report do not
spring from “rocket science”. They are basic concepts and
proposals. Nothing is novel or unexpected. Commentators
have been calling out for them with increasing vigour in
recent weeks and months.
This leads to our first recommendations. The government
must lead. There is an opportunity to start something
which can have a hugely positive impact on the whole
of Australia 6
A commitment to success
In traditional Aboriginal society (and this probably is
consistent with all cultural groups in the world), old
people and children were the most important members
of the community - the old people for what they learned
through their life and the children because they would
carry on the law, the religion, the beliefs and the culture.
The role and responsibility of all other members of the
community was to look after the older people and
the children. 7
6 Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw
back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and
creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which
kills countless ideas and splendid plans: That the moment one
definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts
of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have
occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising
in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings
and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed
would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of
Goethe’s couplets : “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin
it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it” Quotation from The
Scottish Himalayan Expedition, by W.H. Murray, Pub. J.M. Dent &
Sons, Ltd., 1951
7 Tex Skuthorpe, Noonghaburra man from Goodooga NSW, from
the “Children are Sacred” community education poster, NAPCAN
Ampe Akelyernemane Meke Mekarle “Little Children are Sacred”
In those terms, the government represents all other
members of the community. However, its task is not
merely to follow the dictates of the electorate but to lead
it. It should accept its responsibility to protect our kids.
They are sacred.