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The Mildura Local

Indigenous Network

The

Yuranga Aboriginal

Committee

Community Plan

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The Yuranga Aboriginal Committee – The Mildura Local Indigenous Network Community Plan Contents: Introduction 3 Our Community, Our Vision, Our Future 4 Vision Statement 5 Our Values / Our Principles 6 Our Assets / Our Activities 7-8 Maps / Stats 9-10 Our Future / Our Priorities 11-16

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INTRODUCTION

We wish to acknowledge the land on which

we stand, as land that belongs to Our People,

we are the Descendants from this Land and

from the Regions surrounding Mildura.

We pay great Respect to our Elders, past and

present, who have guided us, who have led

us, and who continually provide us with

Knowledge and Wisdom obtained

throughout the Annals of History. We pay

homage to our Ancestor’s for their Strength;

Their Resilience and

Their Courage, they are

the reason we are here

today.

We are the Traditional

owners of the oldest

Living Culture in the

World and we are a

Proud and Strong Race of

People.

Our Local Indigenous

Network was established

in 2008. The LIN is a

representative body for

the local community of

Mildura and now boasts

more than 118

participants who can now

have their ‘Voices’ heard.

The LIN has been extremely proactive in

working in Mildura and with other Agencies

and has had many successes with Projects

and Activities to build a strong community,

including work with the local Mildura Rural

City Council on establishing the Aboriginal

Action Committee and the Aboriginal

Culture Centre Plans for the Riverfront.

Our Community Plan was developed over

time with our local representatives and

reflects our priorities, our aspirations and

what we want for our future.

OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VISION,

OUR FUTURE Acknowledgements

We would like to take this opportunity to

acknowledge the traditional owners of this

Country and the Elders who have past into

the Dreaming and Elders present today who

have survived the impacts of Colonisation.

Our Elders are the Cornerstone of our

communities and we pay our Respect to

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them, their journeys, their strength and their

Resilience. Community Profile & HISTORY

The Traditional owners of the lands in and

around Mildura are the Ladji Ladji Tribes

with its neighbour the Barkinji across the

River with surrounding tribes including the

Madi Madi, the Dadi Dadi and the Kureinji.

Aboriginal people have lived in this area for

more than 60,000 years and are present in

the Mungo Man, who was discovered in

1974 at Lake Mungo.

White settlement of Mildura occurred in

1847.

On 13 Sept 1854 Thomas Hill Goodwin set

out to investigate possible sites for a

mission, and when he returned on 14 Dec

1854 he recommended Yelta, in Victoria and

opposite the conjunction of the Murray and

Darling Rivers. Early 1855 the Government

of NSW (which still included the area later

called Victoria) gave a square mile (640

acres or 256 hectares) grant near the

Billabong called Yelta.

The site was established by the Church of

England Society

Yelta had been chosen as the place for a

Mission because it was on an area where the

aborigines met as they followed their cycle

of nomadic life.

Yelta commenced on 3 August 1855.

Supplies were stored and a vegetable garden

was soon fenced and equipped with a

windmill for irrigation. Handmade bricks

were used to build a dwelling house, store-

room and a school-room.

This was before the township of Mildura

was developed and before the Victorian

Border was mapped. The Mildura LIN stated that these are the

Communities Priorities:

• Aboriginal Culture Centre

• Acknowledgement- protocols

• Aboriginal community Included in

MHRCC planning processes

• Consultation / Representation

• Housing

• Employment

• Education & Training

• Enterprise & Economic

development

• Emotional, Spiritual & Physical

Health and Wellbeing

Mildura Local Indigenous Network ~ The Yuranga Aboriginal Committee

History of

Aboriginal

people

Mungo Lodge Army

Veterans

Yelta mission

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OUR VISION

Where do we see our community in 10 years time?

This Activity was done in two groups and used artistic mediums to produce a Vision for

the Mildura Community. This is what was articulated in the Exercise.

VISION

STATEMENT

The Mildura Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Community is a Stronger community.

It is Healthy, Thriving economically and grounded in our Rich Culture & Heritage.

The Mildura ATSI Community is a place where we have made great efforts to Close

The Gap on disparity and social inequality in Health, Housing, Education,

Employment, Enterprise, Safety and Culture.

We will make life in Mildura a brighter future for our children.

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OUR VALUES Our Values drive the operation of our LIN – such as fairness, inclusiveness, cooperation, respect,

transparency, safety and our Culture.

• To remember the oldest living Culture in the world and to reclaim, restore and make others Aware

of our Culture

• To create a legitimate network of Aboriginal People who are honest and transparent in our

dealings with community at all times

• To build on our communities strengths and build our communities capacities to make self

determination a reality

• To look for Partnerships within the community and work in collaboration and partnership with

everyone to achieve the aims and outcomes of our Community Plan

• To build the resilience of our community members to ensure we can make our community much

more stronger, healthier and much more sustainable

• Strengthen our economic future – especially in tourism and ensure that appropriate training and

employment opportunities are accessible to all community members

• To endeavour to deliver results that make a difference to our community through community

engagement activities

• To be inclusive of all within our community by ensuring community connectedness

OUR PRINCIPLES Koorreen Principles Of Life

“Our Respect Rules”

Our Seven Primary Rules:

1. Listen (to the Earth, waters and others so that you may learn)

2. Learn (from all you hear, see and feel this will inform you on whom you are and who you can be)

3. Respect (all living things and beings to enable them to respect you)

4. Integrity (conducts yourself and act honestly at all times so that others may learn from you)

5. Honour (honour the Great Spirit, the property of others and your own life path)

6. Compassion (have compassion to others so that you learn to be graceful with you spirit)

7. Courage (have courage to act in all of the above and to know when you have made mistakes so

that you can know when to have humility)

These life rules will help remind you to always strive to be a better contributor to the world.

At Mildura we; 1. Pay respect to each other by listening and acting politely to each other

2. We respect each others belongings

3. We remember we are here to learn

4. We remember we learn off all things

5. We remember it is a gift to be here

6. We leave this place and the places we visit as we find them or in a better condition

7. We do this so we leave this place with good memories and good things in our spirit and

heart

(Used with permission from Richard Frankland)

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OUR ASSETS

OUR ACTIVITIES

WORKING WITH LOCAL COUNCIL In November 2010, the Mildura LIN took an important

step toward building a stronger relationship with their

local council.

Along with members of the Yuranga Aboriginal

Committee, Mildura LIN representatives met with the

Mildura Rural City Council (MRCC) to discuss a range

of issues.

At the meeting, LIN participants Gloria Clark and

Sandra Stewart, with Indigenous Community

Engagement Broker Thelma Chilly, made presentations

to members of Council, including Acting Mayor Susan

Nichols and Chief Executive Officer Mark Henderson.

Among the range of subjects discussed, the LIN asked Council to consider implementing an Aboriginal

Affairs portfolio and to look at establishing an

Aboriginal Culture Centre in Mildura.

In the wake of the meeting, MRCC has taken steps to

invite LIN representatives to join an Interim

Committee to develop an Indigenous Affairs

Framework at Council and to establish Terms of

Reference for the Committee.

Mildura Rural City is one of Victoria’s largest

municipalities. The 2006 Census recorded an

Indigenous population of 1,431 which is the second

highest for a local government area in Victoria.

LIN MEMBERS COMMUNITY

ASSETS

CULTURAL ASSETS

Basketball Coach Volunteer Law Degree Barrister & Solicitor Diploma of community services (childcare) Community Skills Dad-Father-Mother UNk with Nat Policy development Degree Arts Degree Education Degree mulitmedia-20 years exp exp working non for profit work exp includes starting and building a RTO in community org Receptionist (administration)

Aboriginal potential Working with children. 20 years washing & folding cook Bus Driver Legal & Social Policy Executive Manage Youth support Team Leader 26 years of Child Care Experience Family/Community Orientated Cert 3 children’s services (childcare) Finishing off Bachelor of Early Childhood

MAC-Houses & buildings

Indigenous culture centre Elders Knowledge Cultural Dancing River Yelta Mungo

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It is generally recognised that the Indigenous population is higher than officially recorded as many

Indigenous people come to Mildura from interstate for seasonal employment and access to services. (Voice

Magazine Issue 2 Feb 2011)

Yulkam Jerang KBN Conference

In Melbourne 2009 (*warning – these pictures may contain images of

persons that are deceased)

COMMUNITY PLANNING Mildura LIN participants attended a 2 day

Workshop in partnership with AAV and Swinburne

University to share

Ideas and develop their planning

Skills and who have had input into creating this

Plan.

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MAPS

Mildura Rural City

Loddon Mallee Region

STATS

DEMOGRAPHICS

Population of Mildura Municipality 50,000 (ABS 2006) (approaching 60,000)

Indigenous Population 8000

*The Indigenous Community is a moving and transient community

*The Indigenous Community is a Young population and has an aging population as well

CALD Communities approx 54% different cultures

LGA: Mildura Rural City Council

Services: Public and private

Heritage in area: Lake Mungo

Hattah Kulkyne

Lake Victoria

Yelta & Mildura

Main industries: Horticulture

Citrus

Tourism

Agriculture

Pastoral

*History of Indigenous People employed as Drovers and Jackaroos in the District

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EMPLOYMENT

The Majority of Indigenous People work in;

• Identified Aboriginal Positions

• Over the Last 4 years a trend in

employment in private and mainstream

Sectors

• More employers looking for keen workers in

Mildura

• NO CDEP

• % of Koori people in employment

Main employment of koori people occurs in these agencies:

• Mildura Aboriginal Co-

op 70%

• AFVPLS 3/4

• SCHS- 4

• MRCC- 2

• DEECD-10

• CHAC- 95%

• MFC

• Government Agencies-

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• 2 Rivers-

• Tafe

• Latrobe

• Hospital

• Chemist Warehouse

• Fishers

• Burrows Jewellers

• Seasonal Employment

• Dare to lead

• Lombards

• ANZ Bank

• DOJ, DHS, DPCD

Mildura has very few Indigenous Owned Businesses ~ some are:

• BLISS

• Nylingah

• David Burns

• Harry Nanya Tours

• Censored

• Lance Atkinson

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OUR FUTURE / OUR PRIORITIES

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PRIORITY Area 1 SAFETY OBJECTIVES What will we do? How will we do it? By when

will we do it?

Who will drive this in our LIN?

Resources from where?

1. Community to be a safe place for our kids The Mildura Indigenous Community would like Mildura and the surrounding districts to be a safe place for our children, youth and all. 2. Harmony with all cultures / Living and meeting in Harmony The Mildura Koori Community would like to live in Harmony with the diverse community that Mildura has become. We would like to see the formation of a Harmony Group to ensure that good connections and Cultural exchanges abound.

• Lighting • Art Program • Canoeing Program • Sports & Rec • Youth Diversity Facility • Youth Program • NHW – Koori’s involved (invite) • Community Education &awareness • Police Relations • PPP • Lateral Violence Workshops • Night Patrol • Capacity Building • Work with the Sunraysia Mallee

Ethnic Community Council – Dean Wickham

• Letter to council/planners • Partnership with Mildura Arts

Centre/council • Canoeing Program – IDC • LIN Sport & Rec • Youth Diversity Facility • Youth – Talk to all youth Seniors –

Youth Activity Day once a week • NHW – invite to LIN • Community Education / Awareness

Working group • Police Relations – Ask Jemmes to stay

on LIN to keep us informed • Contact Mallee Family Care to give a

presentation • Lin adopt a Police Re: Lateral Violence • Work with the local Night patrol

encourage volunteers • Capacity Building Training Packages at

TAFE • Invite Dean Wickham and SMECC to

LIN meetings once a quarter

2017 Select Working Groups or Action groups set up under the LIN

Mildura LIN DOJ TAFE NHW SRV Vic Police MRCC Youth Services MFC AAV DPCD MAC SMECC Other Agencies

PRIORITY Area 2 HEALTH & WELLBEING OBJECTIVES What will we do? How will we do it? By when

will we do it?

Who will drive this in our LIN?

Resources from where?

1. Koori Sporting facility / Getting our kids active / Health and Wellbeing2. The Health and Wellbeing of the Indigenous community is of great importance and the Closing the Gap Initiative is a strategy that aims to reduce Indigenous disadvantage with respect to life

o health

o housing

o early childhood

o education

• Designated Sporting Person • Partnerships with existing Sporting

agencies • Own LIN Sport & Rec Committee • Working with Keso’s, DEECD to

institute indigenous games into schools; include training and equipment

• Establish a koori Dance group • Source funding to cover costs of

joining sporting activities

• Employ & source funding • Write letters of introductions from LIN • Is established but needs more youth

involvement • Getting people trained in how to use

indigenous games • Source traditional dancers • Philanthropy or other organizations • Awareness for parents, breakfast

programs, promo’s within schools/organisations

• Nominate a LIN member to contact

5 years time

Selected working Groups or Action groups set up under the LIN

Sunraysia Community Health MAC, Health Services Dept Health Agencies DHS AVV DOJ DPCD DEECD Mildura Base Hospital Keso’s MRCC Youth Workers Centre

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o economic participation

We want to have accessible Koori Sporting Facilities to ensure our people are active.

• Promote healthy eating at schools & Koori organizations

• Contact Council about Healthy Communities Initiatives

• Council (MRCCC) to find out about this initiative.

Koori organizations / programs

PRIORITY Area 3 EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT OBJECTIVES What will we do? How will we do it? By

when will we do it?

Who will drive this in our LIN?

Resources from where?

1. More ATSI Students remaining at school and mature aged enrolments encouraged. 2. More jobs for ATSI people in and around Mildura. 3. Koori child care facility 4. Mildura would have its own Aboriginal Day Care Centre and Kindergarten

• More Koori staff at schools / TAFE • Inclusive curriculum • Lobby – Existing groups • Employment targets – MRCC/State &

Fed gov dept’s? Com Orgs • NMLIN - • MRCC – CEF (Ed Op Group – No

indigenous rep – WANNIK WURRER

Build the LAECG – esp. parental involvement. 5 years time

Sandra Stewart Christine Brims Selected working Groups or Action groups set up under the LIN

PACE LAECG Philanthropy

PRIORITY Area 4 ENTERPRISE OBJECTIVES What will we do? How will we do it? By

when will we do it?

Who will drive this in our LIN?

Resources from where?

1. Koori Boating Business Our Community is in the Murray River and our future should reflect our connection to the river. Our Economic Development 2011 and beyond means we could have Koori Boating Businesses operational. 2. Increase in ATSI Business ownership

• Contact Ann Mansell Economic Development Committee

• IBA KBN ILC

• DBI • NSW Maritime

Set up sub committee under BDC or IDC Koori specific

In the next 5 years

Billy Carroll Selected working Groups or Action groups set up under the LIN

Mildura LIN DOJ

TAFE

NHW SRV

Vic Police MRCC Youth services

MFC AAV

DPCD MAC

SMECC

HAVEN KBN

NSW Maritime IBA

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PRIORITY Area 5 HOUSING OBJECTIVES

What will we do? How will we do it? By when will we do it?

Who will drive this in our LIN?

Resources from where?

1. No More Aboriginal Housing Estates The areas that exist now in Birralee, Hornsey and Ambleside are housing clusters of Aboriginal People. We no longer wish to be accommodated in this way…..we want to see housing all over Mildura in precincts that are flourishing. 2. Elders Village The Indigenous Community should treasure its Elders as they are living Cultural Resources and Archives. We should Respect and look after our Ageing population and as part of their need provide an Elders Village to accommodate and provide care for our Elders. 3. More koori owned homes The Mildura Koori community would be a place for Economic strengthening and Koori’s would own their own businesses which would encourage more Home Ownership in the Mildura Koori Community.

• Meet with Department of Housing to discuss this issue. / HAVEN

• Meet with Aboriginal Housing board Melbourne.

• Community Petition to present to –

Dept of Housing, AAV, DHS/HACC, FACSIA, Local MP/minister of aging

• Invite KBN & IBA to provide info

sessions to community

• Provide info on Rent/Buy system.

LIN Broker to organise meetings with Aboriginal Housing Board. Housing Action Groups. Lin Member’s.

Next 5 years

Selected working Groups or Action groups set up under the LIN

Mildura LIN DOJ TAFE NHW SRV Vic Police MRCC Youth services MFC AAV DPCD MAC SMECC HAVEN KBN IBA

PRIORITY Area 6 TRANSPORT OBJECTIVES What will we do? How will we do it? By

when will we do it?

Who will drive this in our LIN?

Resources from where?

1. Koori Transport Services The Mildura Aboriginal Community is one in which Families find Transport challenging. We wish to see a Koori Transport Service provided to our community.

• Write a submission and submit to Philanthropic trust

• Contact council, RE: Community Bus

• Meet with Terry Garwood

The LIN will work at building relationships and partnerships with Local Transport Providers and the Transport Connect Program in Mildura / Sunraysia The LIN will investigate economic development possibilities with DBI and IBA to encourage local community members to take up this opportunity

NEXT 5 YEARS

Selected working Groups or Action groups set up under the LIN

Mildura LIN

DOJ TAFE NHW Vic Police

MRCC youth services

MFC AAV

DPCD MAC

SMECC HAVEN KBN

IBA

DBI

Transport Connect

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PRIORITY Area 7 CULTURE & RESPECT OBJECTIVES What will we do? How will we do it? By

when will we do it?

Who will drive this in our LIN?

Resources from where?

1. Aboriginal Culture Centre 2. The Aboriginal Community in the

future will have a fully functioning Aboriginal Culture Centre / Keeping Place and be a base of Economic opportunities with Mildura Tourism.

3. Koori Gardens 4. The Indigenous Gardens would boast

healthy bush tucker that could be regenerated and cultivated for the Aboriginal Culture Centre and Café.

5. Aboriginal Walking trail 6. The Aboriginal Walking Trail would be

an important part of the Aboriginal Culture Centre and would lead from there to points of historical and cultural reference along the river on the Murray.

7. 4. Welcoming signs Acknowledging Aboriginal Elders / Aboriginal street signs

8. The Mildura Koori Community would like to see at the entrance and exits of the township signs acknowledging the Tribal / Traditional owners of the land this would also refer Respect to the Traditional owners and Koori Community

9. 5. Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio at MRCC and Aboriginal City Councillors

10. The Mildura community would be an inclusive and representative community with Aboriginal Councillors sitting on Council and where an Aboriginal Portfolio was administered by them. An Aboriginal Advisory Board would be in place within Council.

• Define what ‘we’ want • Signage & Identification of

Tradional Owners • Erect memorial to identify

Aboriginal Returned Servicemen • Contact DSE/ Parks Victoria about

possibilities of Koori workers establishing it and use local koori people

• Establish a Connection to MRCCC & Parks & Wildlife

• Identify & promoting of Aboriginal sites

• Tell council what we want within a defined timeline – Identify locations and appropriate language & interpretation

• Signage at entries and exits in every community, acknowledging Tribal and traditional owners of the land

• Underway Mildura Rural City Council

• Training for woman to learn how to be come councillors

• Indigenous (ILUA) with MRCC on Marina Development

• Contact MRCC & Elders • Contact Department of Sustainability &

Parks Victoria • Find out & contact to MRCC, Parks/

Wildlife Victoria • Contact traditional owners to identify

sites to promote • LIN • MRCC • Follow up on Council’s Actions

regarding ILUA

2017 Selected working Groups or Action groups set up under the LIN

MRCC Mildura LIN TOs DSE Parks Victoria AAV DPCD

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*Changes made to plan to correct typo in Priority area 2 – Health & Wellbeing on 3/2/2014.

PRIORITY ARE 8 FAMILY & COMMUNITY

OBJECTIVES Unite and Strengthen our Community Look for opportunities to collaborate

What will we do? Family Fun Days Women’s Pamper Days Mens Days Cultural Camps

How will we do it? The LIN will formulate partnerships with existing Agencies and work together to achieve it’s aims and objectives in each of these areas

By when will we do it? 2017

Who will drive this in our LIN? Selected working Groups or Action groups set up under the LIN

Resources from where? Funding applications to various government agencies and philanthropic societies Working with agencies for in-kind contributions

PRIORITY AREA 9 SEWB

OBJECTIVES To improve the ESWB of the Aboriginal Community

What will we do? Provide a Directory of Services Available Work with MAC Cultural Activities Support for Parents / Whole Families Mental Health First Aid Training Young Mums Groups Suicide Prevention Training Recreation opportunities Capacity Building of community members Community Education FVPLS & IFVRAG / IFVCAG Family Violence Prevention & Education

How will we do it? The LIN will formulate partnerships with existing Agencies and work together to achieve it’s aims and objectives in each of these areas

By when will we do it? 2017

Who will drive this in our LIN? Selected working Groups or Action groups set up under the LIN

Resources from where? Funding applications to various government agencies and philanthropic societies Working with agencies for in-kind contributions