Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Solidarity Group
In photo to the left: Long-term members - Ruth Hamlyn-Harris, Laraine Hinds, Charles Topp.
The Benarrawa Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Solidarity Group is comprised of both Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous community members who have come together regularly (approximately every two months on a Saturday afternoon 2-4pm) to work in partnership. This group started in 1993 when people came together for Reconciliation Study Circles.
It seeks to inform its members and the wider community about issues affecting the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and promote justice and understanding between all peoples.
The Solidarity group is resourced by Benarrawa CDA with members providing support (in the form of working groups) to work alongside community development workers and First Nations Elders and cultural workers to help host public activities and ceremonies such as solidarity with Invasion/Survival Day, National Sorry Day, Mabo Day, Reconciliation Week, National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Celebration (NAIDOC) Week, the Annual Elders Lunch, and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Cultural Awareness Workshops. Benarrawa CDA also maintains the “Back to Country” fund (a small fund made up from community donations) to help support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members with the cost of transport to return to Country for Sorry Business or make a small financial contribution towards a funeral.
Any community member who is interested in learning more or being a part of the group is welcome and should contact Benarrawa on 3379 9925.
Annual Solidarity Events
Annual Solidarity Events
January 26th, 7.30am
280 Graceville Avenue, The Bronze Canoe, Simpsons Playground
Annual Survival Day
On this day, we recognise that this land was not settled peacefully nor acquired justly, but that the resilience of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples continues to grow stronger.
Join with Benarrawa Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Solidarity Group members in a simple ceremony to celebrate the survival of the First Peoples of this country. Especially the people who lived, gathered, raised their children and cared for the waters and lands along the banks of the Brisbane river and Benarrawa (Oxley creek). Please bring a small plate of easily shareable food for community breakfast after the ceremony plus some native foliage/flowers to cast into the bronze canoe and then creek as part of the ceremony.
All Welcome.
May 26th , 7:00am - 10:00 am
“Journey Home” Plaque, Sherwood Arboretum, Joseph St entrance
National Sorry Day
National Sorry Day is a time for all Australians to gather to remember the Stolen Generations – those Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families under government policies which spanned 150 years into the early 1980’s, and to ensure that these practices and policies are never again implemented. Locally, a number of Salvation Army “Industrial Schools” and children’s homes throughout the Sherwood, Chelmer and Yeronga areas accepted “Stolen Children” earlier last century.
Join with Benarrawa CDA and members of the Solidarity Group members, and general public to remember and acknowledge the past, and help reconcile for our collective future. Please bring a small plate of breakfast fare to share after the ceremony. All Welcome.
June 3rd
To be confirmed
Mabo Day
Mabo Day celebrates the decision of the High Court on 3 June 1992 which found that Aboriginal Native Title was not extinguished by British Invasion, and that Australia was not Terra Nullius (Empty Land). We gather a few weeks after this date, to celebrate and remember Eddie Mabo, his work and achievement of recognition of Native Title, for his home, the Murray Islands, Torres Strait.
We usually celebrate Mabo day approximately two weeks after the 3rd June as First Nations community members and Elders are so busy during Reconciliation week (A time for people across Australia the opportunity to focus on reconciliation, to hear about the culture and history of Australia's First Nations’ peoples, and to explore new and better ways of meeting challenges in our communities, for more information: http://www.reconciliation.org.au). We have often hosted a special community lunch or we attend-support local Mabo Day events. Please see our facebook for any updates on events or call us on 33799
Annual Solidarity Events
Annual Solidarity Events
July 7th-14th (slightly changes each year)
NAIDOC Week
Celebrations are held around Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Taking part in NAIDOC Week is a great way to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and build bridges between all Australians.
For information: https://www.naidoc.org.au/ and https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/
Date and venue to be confirmed
Community Conversation Circle
Gathering in a safe space where we can listen to one another, share respectful dialogue and be in presence of some well-known Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and prominent cultural workers and community members who generously share their lived experiences both professionally and personally, of individual and community issues.
1st Saturday of the month, Feb - Apr, Sept - Dec.
(Extra dates in May for Sorry Day),
12:30-1.45pm
Benarrawa CDA
79 Waratah Avenue, Graceville
Benarrawa Community Choir
An un-auditioned group of all ages who come together to sing, share, support and stand in solidarity with the interests, projects, and events of Benarrawa CDA. Free to attend. Email Megan at: meganreconciliationmusic@gmail.com
An Abbreviated Time-line of the Benarrawa Solidarity Group
Christ The King Catholic Parish, Graceville had a strong Social Justice focus and supported its primary school to teach curriculum that included Aboriginal and Torres Strait culture. The Catholic Social Justice Office contributed funding for the program and a school bus to assist Indigenous children to attend the school for over a decade from 1982.
Christ The King Parish funded a Community Development Office in the 1980s to 1990 to work with the school community and residents. Early in 1991 The Community Development Office became state funded.
1992 in the Chelmer, Oxley area there was an interfaith Racism Awareness Group. In June the High Court overturned the legal doctrine of terra nullius 'land belonging to nothing, no one' in favour of Eddie Koiki Mabo’s Native Title Claim for Mer, Murray Island in Torres Strait.
1993 the Racism Awareness Group joined in a local Reconciliation Australia Study Circle.
1994 the CD Office met with Uncle Neville Bonner and The Brisbane Council of Elders to take the Yagera name Benarrawa (Oxley Creek area) it also formed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Solidarity Group. The focus of the Solidarity Group was education, interaction with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and communities, information sharing, and support. Annual Benarrawa Day gatherings in November celebrate the name change, Benarrawa Community Development.
1995 Talks by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders. Aboriginal artist, John Tatten was commissioned to paint “The Benarrawa” and tell its story.
1997 at Benarrawa’s AGM a motion to respond to The National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres strait is Children from Their Families and Communities. In October Brisbane City Council (BCC) appointed an Aboriginal Woman to work with Brisbane Council of Elders, Qld Churches Together and Reconciliation Qld and community organisations to develop five local Journey Home Ceremonies in Brisbane. Information sessions were held at local schools, community organisations, and libraries.
1998, 22nd March, the first Journey Home Ceremony was held at Sherwood Arboretum. The first Elders Lunch was held in August (now an annual event) and an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Show and Cultural Festival at Milpera English Language Intensive SS in November. A local Aboriginal History research project began funded by BCC. The booklet was launched in 1999.
1999 a NAIDOC week breakfast was held at Milpera School (information on Brisbane NAIDOC events is now shared with members). The second Aboriginal and Torres Strait Is Art Show and Cultural Festival at Milpera School.
2000 Oxley Creek Water Festival, a traditional bark canoe was made and paddled by a young Aboriginal boy that carried an Elder Aunty Vi McDermott to the pontoon at the mouth of The Benarrawa (Oxley Creek). A bronze model of the bark canoe was commissioned by BCC and now stands close to the mouth of the Benarrawa. Following the Water Festival Benarrawa CDA was asked to have its painting and photos displayed at the Museum of Brisbane for a short period.
The Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander Art Shows and Cultural Festivals were held annually until 2006 when they became biennial until 2012. In the lead up to the annual Sorry Day Ceremonies and the Art Shows and Cultural Festivals the Benarrawa Solidarity Group received funding from BCC, the Qld Government local politicians and businesses.
In the mid 2000’s small groups from the Solidarity Group started gathering for 26th January, Invasion Day. At an Elder’s Lunch several Elders agreed that on 26th January we will acknowledge the “survival” of the Indigenous peoples of our country, in spite of British settlement, colonisation and the ongoing denials of their rights, displacements from their country, removal of children, massacres and losses of their people’ s rights.
Since 2004 Benarrawa CDA and Solidarity group is located at 79 Waratah Ave, Graceville.
2008, 26th Jan, Survival Day Ceremony was held at the site of the bronze canoe, The Benarrawa, mouth of Oxley Ck. This has become an annual ceremony following which people walk to the pontoon and cast flowers into the creek to acknowledge the losses and strengths of our First Nations peoples.
2008, 13th February Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s Apology to the Stolen Generations; many local Elders who participate at the Benarrawa Solidarity Group events attended. Uncle Albert Holt gifted a framed Apology from Graham Perrett MP to Benarrawa CDA.
2010 a plaque placed at the bronze canoe acknowledges the Aboriginal people of the area their histories and lifestyles long before the 1788 to 1800.
Many events have become annual as have Elder’s talks, advice, planning, feedback, collaboration and discussions.
2016 The Educators Learning Circle began and continues to meet at Benarrawa CDA quarterly at 4pm to 6pm when Teachers and educators are resourced by First Nations Elders and cultural workers.
2017 Community Conversations funded by BCC Indigenous unit at least once or twice per year for three Indigenous speakers and an MC. The 2023 Community Conversation will focus on The Voice to Parliament.
In 2021 a Benarrawa Community Choir of First Nations singers and local participants at Benarrawa CDA began to sing at events. This follows on from the many years the Songlines Choir have sung at Benarrawa events.
Wherever possible at the public Survival Day and Sorry Day Ceremonies a didgeridoo player begins the ceremony and dancers welcome people to the circle. Stephen Bond often plays the didgeridoo; he is also an artist and has donated one of his paintings to several Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Shows and Cultural Festiivals for auction, raising funds for Indigenous organisations and once for the local Pamphlett Bridge Sea Scouts to put towards purchasing a new canoe.
The Benarrawa Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Solidarity Group is most grateful to the Yaggera Elders, and other Brisbane Elders, artists, cultural workers and dancers who have shared their stories, personal histories, journeys, art and cultures with us over the 30 years since it began.
The Solidarity Group meets regularly and members join Working Groups to plan and review events and the ongoing community engagement, community building and its further development.
Benarrawa Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Solidarity Group - Statement of Sharing Information About Studies and Articles on Injustices Impacting First People’s Lives and Proposals on How to Address the Inequalities.
4th May 2018
The Benarrawa Solidarity Group has always sought to be a community educator and advocate within the local and wider communities. This includes continuing to learn about the histories and cultural traditions of Australia’s First Peoples and addressing the injustices and losses they have encountered since the beginning of British colonization.
Part of this communication with participants and the wider community includes the sharing of information about inequality Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples still face today eg. gaps in health and mortality, education, housing, employment and incarceration rates. The Solidarity Group believes conversations about these topics can help to bring about changes in community attitudes and government policies. The group shares and circulates articles from both Indigenous and non-indigenous sources to promote conversations and dialogue about equity for all Australians. We note that some ideas may be challenging and that some, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, will not always agree with the views put forward in articles. Nevertheless, the Solidarity Group aims to research a wide range of views, encourage debate and facilitate the sharing of ideas.
Our aim is to keep the topics alive until injustices are addressed.
