Respected First Nations author and advocate Thomas Mayo will speak from the heart at a Reconciliation Week event.
Surf Coast Shire Councillor Rose Hodge said it was an honour to have the Kaurareg Aboriginal and Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander man as a guest speaker during a presentation on May 29.
“Thomas is a respected signatory to the Uluru Statement from the Heart,” she said.
“We are fortunate to have engaged him as we seek to deepen our understanding of the Statement and meaningful steps towards reconciliation.
“Our event will support reconciliation by providing an opportunity for people to understand the Uluru Statement from the Heart as an invitation that has come directly from First Nations people.
“The invitation is about walking together, recognising Australian identity shaped across millennia and shaping ‘a fuller expression of Australia’s nationhood’.”
The Thomas Mayo free event will be held in Council’s chambers at 6pm with an audience question and answer session, book sale and signing following the presentation.
The Uluru Statement from the Heart calls for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Australian constitution, truth-telling, and makarrata or treaty.
National Reconciliation Week runs from May 27 to June 3. It follows this year’s theme of Be a Voice for Generations to encourage all Australians to be voices for reconciliation in their everyday lives.
People should register to secure a spot at the event at ThomasMayoSurfCoast.eventbrite.com.
