2010s

2010

Dolly Brown runs Women and Children’s Centre in Waterloo.

Arthur Coolwell from Redfern is an actor in many films. Richard Green is an actor, self taught Darug language speaker and rave poet of renown. (V52, ‘Redfern saved my life’.)

Jamie Wolther-Pinkerton, Private Secretary to HRH Prince William of Wales and HRH Prince Henry of Wales, writes that ‘Prince William on his recent visit to Redfern had been asked if he could help investigate the circumstances surrounding the missing head of Pemulwuy. ‘The reason for this was that The Prince was very deeply moved by the story of the warrior’s death and decapitation, and by the depth of feeling that this, rightly, still arouses within the Indigenous community of Australia.’ In a letter to Mick Mundine, Redfern Community Centre, Mr Wolther-Pinkerton explains that Pemulwuy’s head may have been destroyed in the bombing of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1941, or possibly may even have been returned to Australia in 1998. The Prince intends to keep on with his investigations as to the whereabouts of Pemulwuy’s remains.

Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Executive Committee consists of: President: Cindy Berwick, Vice President: Christine Foreshew, Treasurer: Megan Widders, Secretary: Jennie McKenny. The NSW AECG continues to offer support to all NSW schools in matters to do with Indigenous education issues. Delma Davison goes on working for the NSW AECG as a Liaison Officer after many years of Aboriginal education work. She begins as an Aboriginal Education Assistant and later achieves her Bachelor of Education. Lyn Stewart a descendant of Bungaree also begins her career as an AEA and now works out of the Stanmore NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group office as an early childhood consultant. (V17 ‘In a white man’s world you gotta be better than them’) (V35, ‘Probably, some day, it would be good if we weren’t here’)

University of NSW, Nura Gili Indigenous Programs Centre provides academic pathways for Indigenous students as well as research and scholarships and student support. The Indigenous Law Centre, Muru Marri Indigenous Health Centre and the Indigenous Policy and Dialogue Unit also provide ongoing Indigenous services.

Anthony Mundine takes on the winner of the Contender Australia Boxing Series, Garth Wood. Mundine is knocked out in the 5th round. The result is reported to be one of the biggest upsets in Australian boxing history.

The National Centre of Indigenous Excellence opens a world class gymnasium and sports training and theatre facility in Redfern. Sam Jeffries is one of the centre’s board members. (V44, ‘Leadership opportunities for young Indigenous people’)

2011

The Purple Goanna cafe' opens in Redfern catering with Aboriginal foods.

Eora College continues to grow as a TAFE funded part of Sydney Institute of Technology, Darryl Griffin is the long time Principal. Most students are Indigenous, but mainstream students are also welcomed. Ex champion boxer, Willie Lesley is the general assistant.

Julia Torpey researcher and PHD candidate joins www.historyofaboriginalsydney.edu.au team.

Paul Morris is CEO of Sydney Metropolitan Land Council and works closely with community to widen the land council’s role, they are active in land claims and protection of Aboriginal sites in the Sydney region. Community support such as funeral plans are part of the Council’s role. (C206) (V4, ‘These people made Redfern their home’) (V23, ‘Land is what we do’)

At the Australian Museum, Sydney A cultural revival project and exhibition celebrating Aboriginal cloak-making opens. Aboriginal community members, artists, teachers and students and Museum partners come together to celebrate the launch of the exhibition, 'Wrapped in a Possum Skin Cloak by the Lake'. Aboriginal guests represented Sydney City's Indigenous communities including La Perouse, Redfern and Glebe.

Lionel Edmund Rose MBE dies. An Australian bantamweight boxer, he is the first Indigenous Australian to win a world title.

The Australian Museum Business Service provides quality consultancy services in all aspects of Aboriginal archaeology and heritage. The team of qualified archaeologists have specialist skills and experience in all areas of Aboriginal heritage assessment across NSW and interstate.

The National Congress of Australia's First Peoples is the peak representative body for Indigenous Australians. Formally established on 3 May 2010, it replaces the 2004 to 2008 National Indigenous Council which has replaced the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) that was established in 1990. Co-chairs are Kerry Arabena and Sam Jeffries.

Gordon Syron and his wife Elaine have put together a 30 page proposal to the Barangaroo Delivery Authority requesting a home for their Keeping Place Aboriginal Art collection.

Presented in association with Blackfella Films and Screen Australia, Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival and Live Music, performance and talks. Now in its 12th year, the Message Sticks Festival offers free films featuring rich stories created by people from Australia and around the world. This year, Message Sticks expands beyond film to include more artforms and artists”.

Barani releases details and a downloadable booklet of a walking tour of Aboriginal inner-city Sydney, Barani/Barrabugu (Yesterday/Tomorrow) http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani/main.html2011.

The Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, releases a Statement acknowledging the Gadigal of the Eora Nation as the ‘traditional custodians of the place we now call Sydney’. She concedes that the ‘invasion’ had far reaching and devastating impact of the occupation and appropriation of Indigenous land. In a separate paragraph she notes that the use of the word ‘invasion’ follows the insistence on its use by the Aboriginal Advisory Panel and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.