Funds plea for Elders’ vital work

A KEY cultural link in Tasmania’s Aboriginal community could be forced to close its doors within a month if funding is not secured soon.

Aboriginal Elders Council chair Clyde Man sell says losing the organisation after more than 30 years of operation would be “disastrous ”.

Located in Chalmers Hall, Launceston, the Elders Council is a place where traditions and practices are handed down and stories, history and culture are shared.

The elders there support cultural and community initiatives such as the four-day wukalina walk in the state’s North-East, provide support for police dealing with troubled youths and simply feeding those in need.

“The Elders is all about cultural continuance and ensuring that cultural relationships are in keeping with the way the community has evolved over the years ,” Mr Man sell said.

“They play that vital role of ensuring that cultural story is maintained and that young people have a place to come and seek support if they need help.”

A young woman who visited the Elders Council recently with drug and other issues “straightened herself out and got her life back on track” with its help, Mr Man sell said.

“After spending time with some of the elders, she understood her place in the community and was better suited to leading a worthwhile existence .”

The Elders Council recently received a $30,000 state government grant to help keep the administration operating after applying for $109,200, but that will only last until December.

The organisation will close then unless additional funding is sourced. The Elders Council runs two specific community programs.

One employs a co-ordinator to help elders retain their independence at home through the Commonwealth Home Support Program(CHSP ).

The other – for which funding expires next year – helps the elders support people facing issues as a result of family violence.

“Each of those programs gives a small percentage of their funding for administration, but it’s not enough to keep (the Council) going,” Mr Mansell said.

Costs including an administrator’s salary, insurance, phone bills, power and building maintenance still need to be covered.

Mr Mansell said it was important to support the elders.

“We are losing elders too fast before we can (record) their stories, which is what we could get into if we’ ve got the ability to access funding –maintaining story lines for community people ,” Mr Man sell said.