Media Releases

Echuca’s Yorta Yorta elder, Aunty Melva Johnson has been named on the inaugural Australian Indigenous Honour Roll list.

Aunty Melva is one of 20 Victorians to be listed on the Honour Roll, the first of its kind in Australia, along with many other high-profile indigenous people including reconciliation pioneer the late Sir Douglas Nicholls, also a Yorta Yorta elder and the first Aboriginal man to be knighted.

Former world champion boxer and the first indigenous man to be named Australian of the Year, the late Lionel Rose was also honoured as well as internationally recognised and award-winning singer and musician, Archie Roach.

Member for Rodney, Paul Weller has personally congratulated Aunty Melva for her inclusion on the Honour Roll list.

“This Honour Roll acknowledges the many significant contributions from our indigenous leaders and Aunty Melva has been a tireless worker behind the scenes in helping to educate Aboriginal children in Echuca,” Mr Weller said.

In announcing the Honour Roll, Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu made specific mention of Aunty Melva as a quiet achiever and said the many inductees were inspiring role models for all Victorians with achievements that deserved to be formally recognised and truly honoured.

Mr Weller said the Honour Roll was created following an election commitment from the State Government and as part of its broader commitment to closing the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Victorians.

“Aunty Melva and all of the inductees have made significant contributions to our society across many areas, including health, education, politics, sport and the arts,” Mr Weller said.

Members of this inaugural Honour Roll group were nominated by people across Victoria and selected with the assistance of an advisory panel made up of Indigenous people from a range of backgrounds.

“It is very important that we learn about and acknowledge the work of many indigenous Victorians like our own Aunty Melva who have made tremendous contributions to their communities,” Mr Weller said.

 

Local communities will have a chance to have their say on the effectiveness of Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPS) in managing cultural heritage, Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller, said this week.

 

The Coalition Government has announced that a Parliamentary Inquiry will look at the issue in detail in preparation for the review of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 due in May of next year.

 

Mr Weller said it was important to examine whether the existing RAPS system was working well for indigenous Victorians and to ensure that any amendments to the Act reflected the needs and aspirations of the community.

 

RAP appointments are made by the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council, which is an independent advisory body of 11 Traditional Owners from all parts of the state. There are currently nine RAPs in Victoria.

 

The inquiry will be carried out by the Environment and Natural Resources Committee of Parliament, which would establish a process for public submissions.

 

“A Parliamentary inquiry is a very open and accessible way for people to have their say and to help shape the future of Victoria,” Mr Weller said.

 

Findings from the inquiry and associated recommendations will be tabled in Parliament before September 30 this year.

 

The State Government has been accused of “blatant discrimination” against indigenous people in northern Victoria by Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller.

 

Mr Weller moved a notice of motion in Parliament this week condemning both Premier John Brumby and Environment Minister Gavin Jennings for the discrimination.

 

“The government, through Parks Victoria, has ruled that only indigenous people of the Yorta Yorta clan can be employed as park rangers in its newly proclaimed Barmah National Park and that only Yorta Yorta people can be appointed to the park’s board of management.

 

“This is blatant discrimination against members of the Bangerang tribe, who as history clearly indicates, have lived in the park and surrounds for hundreds or even thousands of years,” Mr Weller told Parliament.

 

Speaking later, Mr Weller said the government, by proclaiming that only indigenous people could be appointed as park rangers, was discriminating against the general populace in a way that would not be acceptable in any other section of the workforce.

 

“But to make it worse, the government then sets one clan against the other, discriminating quite blatantly.

 

“This sadly has served to drive a wedge between indigenous communities at a time when it is imperative that everyone works together to achieve the best possible outcome,” Mr Weller said.

 

He said the Bangerang people had a very long history and tradition with the forest areas, and they were now being effectively shut out of management of the parks and also starved of employment opportunities.

 

“What is fair and equal about this policy? How does the government justify it? And what is the reasoning behind effectively closing the door in the face of one section of our indigenous community?” Mr Weller asked.

 

He challenged the government to change the policy to provide equal opportunity for all.

The Victorian Government has agreed to consider a new application for funding to establish an Indigenous art gallery and café in Echuca, The Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller said today.

The Dhungala Gallery Café project has been in limbo since the Brumby Government withdrew almost $800,000 for the project earlier this year.

Mr Weller raised the matter in State Parliament last month calling on the government to reinstate the funding committed by Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV) in 2007.

He received advice from Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Minister Richard Wynne this week that the government would consider funding the project through AAV’s Indigenous Community Infrastructure Program if Njernda Aboriginal Corporation submitted a new application.

“I am advised by the Minister that AAV has now appointed an architect to undertake an assessment of works required to the Old Echuca Courthouse to transform it into a gallery.

“This is a positive development and one which will hopefully pave the way for this innovative project to proceed.”

Mr Weller said Njernda submitted an application in 2007 to the Aboriginal Land and Economic Development Program (ALEDP) run through AAV for funding for the project.

He said the application was partially successful with $791,000 granted on condition that Njernda secure the extra $400,000 required for the project elsewhere.

“Earlier this year Njernda received confirmation that an application for funding through the Federal Government’s Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations had been successful.

“But unfortunately the Victorian Government withdrew its funding share because of the time taken to secure the extra funding.”

Mr Weller said Njernda Aboriginal Corporation had been working on the gallery concept for the past ten years so it was a major disappointment to learn that the original funding allocation had been withdrawn.

“I am pleased to see the Brumby Government has come to its senses by agreeing to consider a new application for funding,” he said.

“The Dhungala Gallery Café will create long-term sustainable employment and will provide an opportunity for our region to expand on its strong tourism credentials by showcasing some of our emerging and established indigenous artists and by creating a space that will provide a valuable interpretation of the area’s rich Indigenous history.”