Why did you Walk for Reconciliation in the year 2000?
We did the walk with some friends from church - the McCredie Memorial Uniting Church in Guildford. They were two couples, about our age. I think one of them had a toddler.
I only migrated to Australia in 1993, in the heady days of Mabo and Wik - and the dream of a new Australia, built of restorative justice was part of my excitement in coming here. The subsequent years were hard to watch, and the Walk seemed to be something I could do that demonstrated how strongly I felt about this stuff.
What has changed in the last 20 years
Little things.
- In 2012 the Uniting Church adopted the new preamble to the UCA constitution, recognising the spirituality and connection to God of Indigenous peoples before the arrival of western Christianity - I was at the national meeting where that happened and that was huge for me.
- I've met and built some friendships with Indigenous people through my church and work; showed up to things in solidarity like the protests against the NT interventions, or at Hyde Park for the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
- My work is focused internationally - I've tried to bring international partners into connection with our own Indigenous people and create space for UAICC to speak into regional fora.
What is your vision of Reconciliation for the next 20 years?"
A whole-hearted national embracing of the Statement of the Heart.