Latest news with #RadioMAMA
West Australian
29-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Geraldton walk calls for unity during Reconciliation Week after WA's Stolen Generations redress announcement
Local school students and community groups stepped up to take a stand for reconciliation on Wednesday, the day after the WA Government unveiled a redress scheme for survivors of the Stolen Generation. About 200 people gathered in Geraldton's CBD to take part in the annual Wanarayimanha walk, part of National Reconciliation Week, which included a walk along the foreshore and a welcome to country by Kathleen Councillor. The event was hosted by Desert Blue Connect, Radio MAMA and Legal Aid WA and organised by the Department of Justice, and Justice and Community Network Committee. Leader of the march, previous Mid West Gascoyne police youth crime intervention officer and Aboriginal regional co-ordinator at Department of Communities, Rob Gibson said events like the walk were 'massive' for the entire community. 'If you're thinking about bridging a gap between non-Indigenous Australians and Aboriginal people, especially Yamatji peoples, it's really important to come together at many little events like this, they grow and they grow, and that's what we want,' he said. 'We want that involvement. We want that connection between them both. Because both of us have great histories. We need to combine that. 'So I always like to think that if you combine 250 years of history with 60,000 years of history, imagine the strength.' On Tuesday morning after National Sorry Day, WA Premier Roger Cook announced that $85,000 would be available per person for Stolen Generation survivors removed from their families before July 1, 1972, as a one-off payment as part of the redress scheme. Applications will open in the second half of the year and only surviving members of the Stolen Generation will be eligible. 'These payments acknowledge an injustice. It does not correct what has happened, but it does offer a path forward,' the Premier said. Mr Gibson, whose father is a survivor of the Stolen Generation, said the announcement was welcomed — not for the money, but the acknowledgement. 'I can certainly say, from a personal point of view, that my father was taken away when he was just a little boy. He didn't see his parents again for a number of years. And that's, you know, that's massive,' he said. 'It's not even about the funds. It's actually about the recognition of his worth and what he's been through, because it's not those missing years, it's the 89 years that he's been around. So it's really important to get that recognition.' Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation CEO Luka Gray said the redress scheme was a 'long-overdue' step toward 'truth, healing and justice for Aboriginal people who were forcibly removed from their families, culture and country.' 'We recognise the deep and ongoing intergenerational trauma caused by these removals and the resilience of our Stolen Generations survivors, many of whom remain active knowledge-holders and leaders in our community,' she said. 'While no financial payment can ever fully address the harm suffered, we hope this scheme provides a meaningful recognition of that pain and supports a path forward through healing and truth-telling initiatives. 'YSRC looks forward to engaging with government and community stakeholders to ensure that the delivery of the scheme is respectful, accessible and culturally safe for all Yamatji Nation members.' The reconciliation walk, which focused on the theme Bridging Now to Next, started at Rocks Laneway, made its way along the foreshore, and returned to the laneway for a morning tea, giving the community a chance to connect, share stories and work together for a better future. Mr Gibson said Australia still has far to go when it comes to bridging the gap. 'It's baby steps generally,' he said. 'I think we have never been in a time where people have more knowledge about our people. 'But unfortunately, we're only this far on the distance of that, so we've got a long way to go.'
West Australian
22-05-2025
- General
- West Australian
What I See with Peter Fiorenza: Instead of complaining, community members should step up and buy-in
Why don't people just step up to the plate? Be responsible and have a bit of 'buy-in'. You may be asking what am I on about. Well, recently I've come to the conclusion that people are simply selfish and self-centred. That's probably a little bit of a broad statement, but I believe I too often fall victim to the 'easy way out' scenario. A case of, 'I'll just leave that for someone else to do', or 'it's someone else's job, I'll close my eyes, and the situation or problem will go away'. Through my everyday life encounters, being a schoolteacher, a councillor and your average citizen, I see cop-outs all the time. Because local government is the system of governance that is most at the coalface, you do get a lot of face-to-face feedback. Don't get me wrong, I love the raw interaction, and that's why I'm in the game, but a fair share of the feedback is often negative. 'Why can't the council do this?' 'Why can't the council do that?' Often, I totally understand the situation, but I am also privy to the big picture where there is only so much money, and choices have to be made. Which brings me to a recent light bulb moment. Governments at all levels pay individuals to provide a service — from within the organisation or outsourced. Often budget restraints mean these services become limited, often resulting in certain areas missing out. And this can lead to community angst. But couldn't this shortfall in services be met with the use of volunteers? For example, overgrown grass verges could be cut by residents who live nearby, individuals could donate trees and assist with adding to the canopy coverage in the city. Perhaps, once a week, families could empty overflowing public rubbish bins in their neighbourhoods. Maybe, a group of retirees could volunteer to clean the public barbecues every couple of days. I'm just throwing these ideas out there. And I'm sure, many of you will say: 'Why should we do this or that, isn't that the council's job, or isn't that the Government's job?' 'Why should I do it?' Because, at the end of the day, I believe we all need to take some ownership in our communities, some healthy buy-in. As you may know, I just love and admire the famous Kennedy family, especially JFK. He said in a speech not long before he died: 'Increased responsibility goes with increased ability, for, of those to whom much is given, much is required.' Let's be prepared to give a little back, hey. Peter Fiorenza hosts Sports Shed Saturday (9am to noon) and Fiorenza on Sunday (10am to noon) on Radio MAMA
West Australian
15-05-2025
- West Australian
What I See with Peter Fiorenza: Walking around Geraldton's oldest streets is a journey through local history
I love the simple things in life. And one of those simple things is going for a walk around the block with my dog, Joel. Not only is it a way to clear out all the cobwebs and bond with man's best friend, its' also a way to discover how things tick in your surrounds. Recently I moved from my home of 20-plus years in Drummonds to my new modest abode in Beachlands. The move happened nearly four months ago — and the dogs and I are loving it. Since moving into town, I've made regular walks a routine, but I have discovered this habit is much more than light exercise. In fact, it is really quite fascinating. When I was at university, I studied geography, with one of the units being urban geography. I wasn't quite sure about it at first, but the more I got into it, the more I found urban geography was actually an intriguing investigation. It involved looking at houses and other buildings, and their impact on society. For instance, let's take a look at one of Geraldton's well-known streets — Shenton Street. Joel and I take a walk down Shenton Street every couple of days, and I find it a real treat. Why? Well, from the moment I hit the pavement in front of my place, it's like taking a journey through history. The architecture is wide and varied. Immediately, from my early 1900s corrugated-iron structure to the the World War II solid brick house across the road, a unique story begins to unfold. Crossing Francis Street, we walk by some gated premises, before seeing some Dutch gable designs in their glory. There are also homes with footpaths that wind through English-style gardens. Every house is different, from before the turn of the last century, even with patches of 1970s, 1980s and later. These homes could tell some amazing tales, from the settlement of Champion Bay to the 1920s and into the two world wars. It's not just the history, but the story of the people who helped to make that history. It's a journey through time in Geraldton. And you know what? This is just Shenton Street. What are the stories being told by Francis Street, Gregory Street, Fitzgerald Street and the rest? Someone recently said to me Beachlands and the West End are the Subiaco of Geraldton. But I reckon they are so much more. Peter Fiorenza hosts Sports Shed Saturday (9am to noon) and Fiorenza on Sunday (10am to noon) on Radio MAMA
