Commissioner shares treaty insight
Victorian Treaty Advancement Commissioner and Order of Australia officer Jill Gallagher was guest speaker at an Australians In Retirement monthly group session in Horsham.
The proud Gunditjmara woman is working with communities to maintain momentum of a treaty process and to set up the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.
The assembly, which will have its first meeting on December 10 and 11, will become an independent democratic voice for Aboriginal people.
Ms Gallagher said it was important to help people, particularly non-aborigines who might be unaware of what was occurring, understand the treaty process and what was being proposed.
She said while many people might have concerns, a treaty was ‘not a scary thing’, but simply a way to recognise Aboriginal people as the continent’s first people, and provide greater education about Aboriginal culture, reconciliation and reparations. “People can get a little bit scared,” she said. “But it’s going to affect all Victorians in a good way, not a bad way.
“The Victorian Government is not going to lose power and Victoria is not going to go broke as a result of treaties.
“This is really about alleviating people’s fears and keeping the conversation going so people can stay informed.”
Australians In Retirement chairman Rick Walker said the group had a guest speaker each month excluding December and January.
He said most speakers talked about issues considered topical for older generations, such as texting or health issues.
He said while Ms Gallagher’s session was different to this, attendees gave more input and asked more questions than usual.
“It was marvellous. Even though this was sort of out of left-field because it wasn’t specifically targeted at this age-demographic, it was very interesting,” he said.
“There’s so much concern in the general population about the treaties and if a treaty is going to mean we lose our farm or properties, so there was an interest in it. She’s a great speaker. No notes, everything comes from the heart.”
Mr Walker said the group’s next guest speaker would visit in February.