Elder: David Tournier in the You Yangs.
By John Van Klaveren
SOCIETY will embrace reconciliation more deeply with the next generation, according to a spokesman for the region’s Aboriginal community.
Wathaurong Aboriginal Coopera-tive’s David Tournier attributed education in Aboriginal issues to creating “more-open-minded” young people.
Mr Tournier made his prediction before leading a “walk and talk” session in the You Yangs National Park as part of Reconciliation Week.
“We’ll get a lot further when the older generation in politics retires,” Mr Tournier said.
“The older ones have limited knowledge of the issues because the teaching profession wasn’t interested in looking at Aboriginal studies back then. Hopefully there’ll be a change when those younger ones start to stand up and take over.”
Mr Tournier said Reconciliation Week was about “coming together to reconcile past differences”.
“I think the general population needs to be made aware of the atrocities and government policy that was forced upon us. We need to try to make the community aware of these issues so they don’t happen again.”
Mr Tournier taught participants on the weekend walk about the Aboriginal culture, heritage and modern uses of the area.
The session included tea and damper for participants while he told stories of Geelong’s history and about the You Yangs.
“The co-op has been interested in doing tourism for a long time,” he said.
Mr Tournier estimated that Geelong’s Aboriginal community had between 2500 and 3000 members, comprising about 2.5 per cent of Geelong’s total population.
“Here in Victoria we’re not as much of a noticeable Aboriginal community. The stereotype of stuff is not necessarily the case these days.”
