
Issue No 13		14 May 1999

News

Unions to March on Journey of Healing on May 26

By Dierdre Mahoney

When nine pairs of message sticks left Uluru on 5 May, bound for each state and territory capital city and the Torres Strait Islands, the healing of hurts caused since 1788 took a new step.

Last year, Australians took part in the nation's first Sorry Day, to recognise that a year had passed since the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission had released Bringing them home, the report on the stolen generations of aborigines forcibly removed from their families up to 1970.

This year, with no apology from the Federal Government forthcoming, indigenous and non-indigenous Australians are planning to celebrate 26 May as a Journey of Healing. Unions are urged to come along en masse, with banners, to a non-religious service at St Stephen's Uniting Church, 197 Macquarie Street (opposite Parliament House) on the day at 9.45am.

After a smoking ceremony at the entrance to the church, the message sticks will be passed from hand to hand among those attending. One of the pair is decorated with 54 dots, being the 54 recommendations in the Bringing them home report. The other depicts a range of symbols, from feet walking, to represent the beginning of a journey, to a boomerang, map of Australia and shackles showing the need to recognise our history.

After the service, union members are urged to march with banners to the Botanic Gardens for a ceremony at 11am, where the message sticks will be handed over in NSW by a member of the stolen generation to a non-indigenous Australian.

Please be there and support what unions and indigenous comrades have been fighting for for years. The Sea of Hands, the highly visible project of Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation last seen on Bondi Beach, will reappear at the gardens, with all attending asked to plant a hand.

Community groups are also undertaking various healing journeys (eg, on the Northern beaches people will walk from church to church), and unions may also wish to add to this. Please call me on 9286 1631 with your details and we'll add them to the next issue of Workers On-Line.

View entire issue - print all of the articles!

Issue 13 contents

Interview: Really Caring
Sam Moait will be sending a message from the 48,000 nurses who she represents when she takes her seat at the Drug Summit

Unions: Kicking the Habit
The architect of a trade union drug and alcohol program has revealed his own battle with drugs motivated him to help other workers kick the habit.

History: Remembering BHP: Memory and Industrial Heritage
The announcement of the intended closure of BHP�s Newcastle steelworks heightened the awareness that industrial heritage is more than derelict sites of production.

Review: Ten Songs to Revolution
We ask Labor Council's resident music critic to name the ten songs that define the nineties.

International: Union Lifts Lid on Rio Tinto Shame File
The global campaign against mining giant Rio Tinto has been stepped up with a new report alleging abuses of human rights, environmental and safety standards.

» Unions Warn Carr: Bosses Can�t Veto Second Wave

» Labor Council Backs Harm Minimisation

» Aquilina Urged to Talk as Students Offered Teaching Jobs

» Cutting Through the Budget Crap

» LHMU Demands Y2K Protection for Workers

» Cops Eye Airport Beat

» Spanish Workers Warned on Tax Agents

» Unions to March on Journey of Healing on May 26

» NSW Young Labor Turns 50!