Dr Jeff McMullens introducing the speaker
Dr Kerry Arabena
On Thursday I went to the 2010 Dr Charles Perkins Memorial Oration at University of Sydney to hear Dr Kerry Arabena speak. Her topic was The National Congress of Australia's First Peoples which was set up in Australia last November and of which she is Co-Chair. This was a controversial topic even among Aboriginal members of the audience some of whom interjected during the speech. The Congress will form a voice for government on Aboriginal affairs as created by its members. It will not be a political party. It will not have a social welfare role. It is going to be a lobby group for which the issues are raised and spoken about by its members who can only be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
I met several interesting people during the less formal part of the event, artists, festival organisers, academics and actors. This continues to be an important event each year that also sees the awarding of prizes to three outstanding Aboriginal students. The Perkins family atttend each year and take part in the awards ceremony.
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