Blank Page Summit Hard Yarn 2010

“Hard yarns solve problems.

Hard yarns deal with the heart of an issue.

Hard yarns challenge assumptions and biases.

Hard yarns leave you ready for more hard yarns.”

The Blank Page Summit Hard Yarn was held from 26-30 July 2010 at Billard Aboriginal Community.

The theme – no more muckin’ around – formed the basis for the discussions and action planning throughout the Summit.

Key contributors

Participants came from across Australia – Adelaide, Amata, Angurugu, Ardyaloon, Balgo, Beagle Bay, Broken Hill, Broome, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Fitzroy Crossing, Galiwin’ku, Gapuwiyak, Halls Creek, Hermannsburg, Kalumburu, Kununurra, Milingimbi, Mimili, Mt Isa, Nguiu, Numbulwar, Oombulgurri, Perth, South West Rocks, Sydney, Umbakumba, Wadeye, Walgett, Warmun, Wilcannia and Wollongong.

These individuals represented over forty local, regional, state/territory and national agencies and organizations.

Hard Yarns

Three hard yarns were prioritized from the work done by key contributors to unlock and explore many hard yarns:

HARD YARN 1 – How do we better support alcohol and drug abuse programs in order to solve the problems of drug and alcohol abuse?

This was not about creating more programs. It was about doing more and better with what’s available.

“Many times we gloss over an issue and don’t get to the heart of it. We expect service providers to do everything. There’s a lot we can do to improve the environment around us that no service provider or government can ever do.”

Focus area: Service provision is not the whole story

HARD YARN 2 – How do we get the leaders we deserve?

This was a reframing of governance and leadership. It takes leadership to create better leaders.

“Leaders are a product of communities. As our communities improve, our leaders will be better.”

Focus area: Better leadership through better community standards

HARD YARN 3 – How do we start addressing the ‘attitude gap’?

“It’s called the ‘jealousy gene’. It gets us every time, in our communities, between people, in the world around us. How we think makes a lot of difference to how we live and how we treat other people. So much chance for change lies in our attitude.”

Focus area: Personal responsibility

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE STOLEN GENERATION OF BEAGLE BAY

Beagle Bay is a community historically linked to the past practice of removal of Aboriginal people under welfare legislation. Many people affected by this policy – members of the ‘stolen generation’ and their families – still live in and around Beagle Bay to this day.

During the Summit 2010 a special presentation and ceremony was held in acknowledgement of these individuals with the support of the Australian Government (FaHCSIA).

As well, Sr Pat Rhatigan, Curator and Researcher of the Sisters of St John of God Heritage Centre Broome spoke about the work of the centre in the sharing of social history related to the Sisters of St John of God and Aboriginal people of the Kimberley. Sr Pat was joined by a wonderful group of volunteers who shared what it meant to them to give their time to the centre.

In recognition of the valuable work done by the Sisters of St John of God Heritage Centre Broome Stephen Victor Snr made a personal donation to support its work.

Cheque Presentation

Stephen said:

“I’ve known Sr Pat for over 50 years. What she and every single one of the volunteers are doing at the Heritage Centre is really humbling. My wife Dorothy and I can’t get into town to help as volunteers. But we can give some of our personal savings to help Sr Pat and the volunteers to keep up their work. We want them to know we appreciate what they’re doing very much. To tell you the truth, we hope that our donation will inspire other countrymen to follow suit. It’s not much money but it’s given with love and gratitude for all their hard and lovely work.”