Published on Wednesday, 21 August 2024 at 9:10:40 AM
Shire President Ron Chamber's speech at the opening ceremony of NAIDOC Kepa Kurl Week:
Kaya, good afternoon to our Aboriginal Elders, and all community members. Thank you for the warm welcome and for inviting me to be part of your NAIDOC celebrations. I take it to be an honour to stand before you on this significant occasion as we come together to celebrate the inaugural NAIDOC Kepa Kurl Week.
This year's theme, “Keep the fires burning! Blak Loud and Proud,” reminds us of the strength, resilience, and vibrant culture of the Nyungar First Nations people.
I would like to extend our support and acknowledgement of the initiative taken by Tjaltjraak to personalise NAIDOC Week for Kepa Kurl/Esperance.
Nationally NAIDOC Week is celebrated within our school holidays, so it is exciting that Tjaltjraak have taken the step to welcome in our students and the community. The activities that have already taken place are so valuable, and it has been great learning about what you do. There is a lot of time, passion and resources to put on a community event like the week that you have organised. Congratulations and looking at the rest of the events planned for the week I am sure it will be a great success.
It has been a tougher year than most, with our communities being put in difficult situations. Harmful words have been spoken out of fear and mis-information. I commend you all for opening up your world and being vulnerable and being present and available to answer the difficult and sometimes sensitive topics. This shows courage and I respect that.
Through life and the many different lessons I have learnt, I would like to share one about respect that I think is important to remember.
In life you will have many roles with differing degrees of responsibilities, these roles will come with titles which can bring with them status and authority. No title comes with respect, this must be earned. To earn respect, you need compassion for your fellow person and the ability to think of others and be aware of how your decisions affect them. It is also important to remember that disrespect says more about the person that is being disrespectful than the person being disrespected.
Thank you for showing us that you care about our community and are willing to help us understand what you do and why it is important to us all.
Tomorrow, we mark a momentous occasion with the signing of a partnership agreement between the Shire of Esperance and the Traditional Owners of this land, Tjaltjraak.
This agreement does more than just tick a box, it cements our commitment to work together, to listen, and learn from each another. This agreement recognises and acknowledges our connection and commitment to Wudjari Country. It symbolises our shared vision for a future where respect, understanding, and collaboration are at the forefront of our community. It is our commitment to work together to benefit our whole community. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those involved in making this partnership a reality.
As we celebrate today and continue to move forward, let us remember the importance of “keeping the fires burning.” This is a powerful metaphor for maintaining the spirit of our community. It reminds us to keep the flame of our shared values alive.
Together, we can keep the fires burning, ensuring a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
Thank You.
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