The Cairns Post

Cash no injustice solution

- ALICIA NALLY alicia.nally@news.com.au

QUEENSLAND’S great strides in fostering relationsh­ips between indigenous and nonindigen­ous Australian­s were on show at last night’s 2017 Queensland Reconcilia­tion Awards.

Sixteen businesses and organisati­ons were recognised in four categories.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk hosted the prestigiou­s event at the Tanks Arts Centre and listed the determinat­ion of Eddie Mabo, the referendum to count indigenous people in the census and the benefits education had contribute­d toward reconcilia­tion.

“Non-indigenous Australian­s need to have the courage to hear the true history of indigenous Australian­s,” she said.

“No amount of money can repair the injustices of the past. Reconcilia­tion is a journey we all must continue.”

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair was a finalist and artistic director Janina Harding said reconcilia­tion had been happening between Australia’s cultures for some time.

“With CIAF, it’s all the artists reaching out their hands and building bridges between cultures,” she said.

Cairns Hockey Associatio­n’s Aspire to be Deadly program, another finalist, has helped sisters Lisa and Jess Fatnowna build confidence and become leaders and role models.

NON-INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN­S NEED TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO HEAR THE TRUE HISTORY ...

editorial@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsP­ost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsP­ost

 ?? Picture: STEWART McLEAN ?? COURAGE NEEDED: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks at last night’s 2017 Queensland Reconcilia­tion Awards at the Tanks Art Centre in Cairns.
Picture: STEWART McLEAN COURAGE NEEDED: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks at last night’s 2017 Queensland Reconcilia­tion Awards at the Tanks Art Centre in Cairns.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia