LC_Aboriginal Social Plan.indd - Warringah Council - NSW ...

Northern SydneyAboriginal Social Plan2007-2011

Principal author of this documentSusan Moylan-Coombs - Aboriginal Project Off cer,Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan (2003 - 2006)The Guringai Fish DesignThe word Guringai means plenty of f sh which wasa symbolic meaning for plenty of people speaking thesame tongue.Kevin Duncan, Central Coast Aboriginal Sites Off icerCopyrightAll title, right and interest in the intellectual materials of the Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan shall be shared equally by allFunding Partners. Except in the case of culturally specif c material such as Dreaming Stories, poems, artwork or photographs of theAboriginal community used in this publication, ownership, intellectual property rights and copyright will remain with the Aboriginalperson or community from which it originated. None of this material may be reproduced without the prior written permission of theperson or community concerned.© Susan Moylan-Coombs, The Fish Artwork and all photographs in this publication,(except pages 14, 15, 16 Stakeholders Forum Photographs, North Sydney Council andWoodford Bay Memorial, Lane Cove Council page 37)© Patrick Lock, The Fish Story

AcknowledgementsThe development of this Plan has been made possible through the involvement of many people and organisations.The spirit that lies within the words on these pages would not have been possible without the generosity of time and willingness to speak up and speak out from Aboriginalpeople, families and communities who reside in the Northern Sydney region. I am grateful for their trust in sharing personal encounters with me, which gives this new socialplan depth and integrity.To the Northern Sydney Aboriginal Advisory Group, thank you for your guidance and direction: Mr Tom Calma, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Mr Leon Donovan, Manager, Indigenous Coordination Centre Mr Steve Merritt, Department of Aboriginal Affairs Mr Larry Trudgett, Community Project Ofcer, Dept. Community Services Mr Herb Smith, Community Facilitator, Aboriginal Child Youth Family Strategy Ms L aVerne Bellear, Manager, Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Mr Jeff Nelson, Manager, Aboriginal Policy Unit, Dept Ageing, Disability and Home Care Ms Lana Shaw, Attorney Generals Ofce Ms Mary Senj, Aboriginal Education Ofcer, Catholic Schools Ofce Ms Sharon Holmes, Aboriginal Consultant, Dept. Education and Training Mr Ray McMinn, Aboriginal Community Liaison Ofcer, Dept Education and Training Mr Rob Cohen, Aboriginal Development Manager, Northern Sydney Institute of TAFE Ms Lara Ruttley, House Parent, Biala Aboriginal Hostel Ms Robynne Quiggin, Solicitor Ms Lois Birk, Guringai Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Mr Rick Shapter, Aboriginal Heritage Ofcer, Manly Council Mr David Watts, Aboriginal Heritage Manager, Northern Sydney Mr Rob Welsh, Chairperson, Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Lands Council Ms Nancy Wood, Senior Community Member, Northern Beaches Mr George Watts, Senior Community Member, Northern Beaches Ms Edna Watson, Darug Elder Mr Chris Tobin, Darug Community Representative.page iiiNorthern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan 2007-2011

AcknowledgementsThe Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Planning Funding Group for their consistent support: Department of Community Services Local Government of the Northern Sydney Area: Hornsby; Hunters Hill; Ku-ring-gai; Lane Cove; Manly; Mosman; North Sydney; Pittwater; Ryde; Warringah Council;and Willoughby.The Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Planning Working Group including representatives from Reconciliation groups around Northern Sydney.Ms Jacqueline Smith, Manager, Manly Community Centre (MCC) for her day to day encouragement and ability to keep me going and the MCC Executive.At the time of completion of the draft which formed this Social Plan, the City of Ryde was an active member of the NSASP Funding Group. Ryde Council adopted andendorsed its own Aboriginal Needs Paper as part of its Social Plan 2005 having conducted local consultations and social research in partnership with Macquarie University.page ivNorthern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan 2007-2011

The Fish StoryAs told to me by my South Coast EldersA long, long time ago, long before humans becamepeople as we know them today, the real old wiseones ruled this land.In the dark times of the human world things got toughand food was hard to come by.An old man went down by the sea to think of waysthat he could help his people through these hardtimes. It was then that he heard splashing in thewater. When he looked up he saw a Dolphin manwho called out to him. “Old man you look sad, whattroubles you?”The old man replied, “Times are hard and my peopleneed food.”The Dolphin man said “Old man I can help you, butrst you must understand and agree to somethingand only then will I help”.The old man said “Yes, my people need food or wewill die.”The dolphin man said “Old man go up to the topof the hill, look out to sea and when you see mejumping up in play, then send your people out tosh…..BUT, YOU MUST ONLY TAKE WHAT YOU NEED,that way there will be plenty for all. If you take more,I will not be able to help you again.”The old man went up to the top of the hill and waitedfor the Dolphin man to jump up out of the water andwhen he did, the people shed and were careful onlyto take what they needed. That night back at theircamp there was plenty of tucker and all were happy.The old man stayed by the water’s edge and whenhe saw the Dolphin man swimming into shore, hewent down to meet him. He walked out waist deepand put his arms into the water for the Dolphin manto swim into. The Dolphin man looked up at him andsaid “Old man your people did what they were toldand for that there will be plenty of sh for them, nowand forever.”The moral of this story is…… take what you need notwhat you greed.© Patrick LockFormer Sydney Region ChairpersonAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission(ATSIC)Advocate for the Aboriginal community in theNorthern Sydney region.page vNorthern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan 2007-2011