The old ways are best
PRIDE. It doesn’t pay the bills but sometimes too much of it can cost you plenty. But have none of it and the human spirit slowly but surely dies. This week I sat around a lunch table with some impressive humans whose pride emanated from them without fanfare or ego. No, there wasn’t a prime minister, academic or member of the sporting elite in sight. The Cairns Post was invited along to the Amaroo Justice Group’s headquarters in Lyons St. On the outside, the Portsmith building is functional but hardly impressive. Inside though it is a whole other story. In there is a group of individuals making a difference quietly and compassionately. Headed by the passionate and impressive Mike Adams, the Justice Group works with the Queensland justice system and in particular the Murri Court and Lotus Glen prison.
Elders play an integral role in helping to deliver cultural justice to their people through honour, wisdom and comfort in a way only they know how.
It is effective and the success they are achieving is substantial despite a pause in proceedings during the LNP’s state governance under Campbell Newman.
Only 10 of the 550 defendants aged 17 and over who have gone through Murri Court have been sent to jail.
Uncle Merv (Weatherall), his wife, Aunty Bev and Aunty Leila (Savage) know they have a big responsibility but they also know it’s always been that way in their culture. It is tradition.
It was a privilege to listen to Aunty Leila tell me her personal family stories and key messages she used to rear her own children and now uses to inspire others. Respect. Respect for your elders.
Respect for your fellow man, woman and children. Respect for yourself. Respect for the law and their lore. In a city grappling with spiking property crime and unacceptable domestic violence statistics, these elders and the Murri Court are making a difference.
But they are the first to admit there are fewer of them willing or able to take on the responsibility and there are children now who do not respect their ways.
The ones reintroduced to their culture who listen find the right path and pride.
Aunty Leila’s wisdom crosses cultural boundaries and skin colour.
Discipline, respect, love, compassion and consequence. All of society needs these values. Those inside the cream Amaroo building do not pretend to know how to fix juvenile crime and deplore abuse of women but they are a big part of the solution – and we must all have skin in the game.
THE AMAROO JUSTICE GROUP IS WORKING QUIETLY BUT EFFECTIVELY TO INSTIL HARD-EARNED WISDOM INTO THE YOUTH OF TODAY. THEIR COMMITMENT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE AND THE EXAMPLE THEY SET IS ONE ALL OF SOCIETY SHOULD FOLLOW