Thank you Agnes.

I would like to show my respect, and acknowledge the Dharug people who are the Traditional Custodians of this Land. I would also like to pay my respect to the Elders both past & present of the Dharug Nation, and extend that respect to other Aboriginals present.

May I take this opportunity to welcome particularly:

Uncle Wess

Rod Towney, President NSW LGAN and Deputy Mayor, Dubbo Shire Council

Sue Pinkham, Vice President, Council Staff

Other members of the NSW LGAN Executive.

Clr Adam Marshall. Mayor, Gunnedah Shire Council

Clr Wendy Waller, Mayor, Liverpool City Council

Clr Alan Cinis, Leichhardt Council

Clr Vera-Ann Hannaford, Leichhardt Council

Clr Ken Hannaford, Leichhardt Council

Clr Julie Hegarty, Pittwater Council

Robert Noble, Department of Veterans Affairs

Julie Owens, Federal Member for Parramatta

Clr Glenn Elmore

Clr John Chedid

Clr Prabir Maitra

Clr Paul Barber

May I also take this opportunity to welcome former Parramatta Councillor Phil Russo. It was he who enabled Parramatta to be the first government in the country to say sorry in 1997.

Bruce Gale, Chairperson

John Robertson, Deputy Chairperson,

Other Executive Committee members of this Committee

Other members. 

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Welcome to the Civic Reception of the NSW Local Government Aboriginal Network Conference 2010.

It is my pleasure, as Deputy Lord Mayor of Parramatta City Council, on behalf of the Lord Mayor of Parramatta City Council, to welcome you all to the NSW Local Government Aboriginal Network 2010 Conference.

On behalf of the City of Parramatta, you pay us the honour of your presence. Parramatta City Council is proud to be hosting LGAN 2010, and we welcome all of you to our beautiful city.

LGAN is a powerful forum: it provides an opportunity for enhancing the profile of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, their skills and their culture. It is a time when Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Councillors and service providers in local Government across NSW come together - with non Aboriginal Councillors and staff - and interested people from other organisations- to discuss current issues affecting Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities including health, education and employment strategies, enterprise and cultural development.

This Conference is a key event in the Local Government calendar. It provides a forum for people across NSW: it is an important way for raising awareness and developing networks and strategies to address the complex range of issues facing Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities today.

Parramatta – Burramatugal as the Aboriginal people called it- was (and is) the word for “place where the eels lie down’. It has been a meeting place for people for tens of thousands of years. It is still a place of people- now, a place where many different peoples from many different places and backgrounds meet, share their thoughts, ideas and their hopes; to live, work and enjoy life here together.

It is appropriate that LGAN 2010 is being held in Parramatta- and particularly important that the Conference venue: The Sebel, is on the Parramatta River. When you take breaks during the Conference, I hope you take the time to notice how beautiful and vibrant Parramatta is: Parramatta is NSW’s 2nd biggest CBD (Australia’s 6th biggest). I hope you notice and enjoy the river, the parks, the people running such a huge range of businesses and enterprises, students travelling through the city, people practising Tai Chi in the Park in Church St Mall while others hurry past on their way to work or to meeting friends for some ‘time out’. I hope you enjoy our city! 

I understand that today, many of you took the opportunity to join in on one of the 3 Conference site visits we offered: some of you went to the beautiful Lake Parramatta Reserve (a site that Parramatta City Council is very proud of); some of you went to Prospect Hill (a site outside our LGA boundaries and yet so close to us that we too are proud of it, for this is the site not only of Pemulwuy’s fierce resistance but also his dreadful death). And, finally, some of you today, went to the site of the Parramatta Girls Home: a site of sorrow and pain for many of you. Parramatta has a rich and powerful history and there is much to be proud of. Unfortunately, some of this history is not a cause for celebration but it is important we acknowledge it has happened.

NSW LGAN gives YOU- the delegates, the time and the opportunities to share experiences, ideas & visions of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people and communities across NSW. It is an opportunity for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and non Aboriginal people to work TOGETHER to make a difference for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people.

Like many ‘simple’ opportunities, we should not underestimate the power of LGAN 2010: taking time to talk, to share experiences, ideas, plans and hopes for our future is profound: it is ‘joyful’ to meet someone who thinks and feels as we do- but it is also ‘inspiring’ to meet someone who does not think and feel as we do and yet who is working for the same outcomes as we are.

The theme for LGAN 2010 is Strong Young Leaders and over the next two days LGAN 2010 will give you, the delegates,  great opportunities:  chances to meet with old friends and colleagues and with new people; it will give you opportunities to talk with like minded  AND different minded people. LGAN 2010’s program also means you will be hearing from a range of inspiring and talented people- people working through art and performance, through government and non government services, developing new programs and working to refine others.  All these opportunities will mean you will go back to the people and the communities you work with, with new ideas and energy for making a difference to the quality of their lives.

It is a great responsibility for all of us to work in such a way we support our children and young people. It is also a great privilege. Our young people need nurturing and support, they need opportunities to grow into strong and enthusiastic, optimistic adults who have both the desire and the ability to add to their communities and their country.

I am sure that LGAN 2010 will build your skills and knowledge and your belief that you are and can keep working to support your young people. I belief that LGAN 2010 will help you to know you are supported to do your work through the support of your colleagues across the state.

As Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Parramatta, I am proud our city is hosting LGAN 2010 and I have great pleasure in welcoming you to LGAN 2010 and to Parramatta!

I wish you well with your work over the next two days.

And I hope you enjoy our beautiful city!

Thank you.

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