1998

27th March 1998
Bonita Mabo to speak in Newcastle on Mabo and Native Title
Next week the people of Newcastle will have the opportunity to hear Bonita Mabo speak at two events on the topics of Mabo and Native Title.

Organised by the Catholic Social Justice Commission and the Catholic Schools Office these events also have the support of Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) - Newcastle Working Group.

The story of the Mabo case, how it was fought and won, and how it has affected Aboriginal communities will be some of the issues discussed by Bonita Mabo and other speakers at the Newcastle Workers Club on Thursday (2 April), 7pm.

Bonita will also meet with the Hunter's school students and education groups at Newcastle Town Hall on Friday (3 April), 10am.

Bonita Mabo has been a supporter of Native Title for many years, and with her husband Eddie Mabo, was closely associated with, and a tireless worker for the landmark Mabo High Court decision on Native Title. Bonita Mabo is also well known through her work in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Other speakers at the 2 April forum include Louise Campbell, Aboriginal Education Adviser for the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, as well as Cheryl Kitchener, Archaeologist and currently Researcher for the NSW Land Council working on the development of regional Native Title agreements. A speaker from the Dhunjutti community at Crescent Head has also been invited to speak on the recently successful Dhunjutti land claim.

All of these women bring a wealth of experience and understanding to the issues of Native Title, reconciliation and the Aboriginal community's response to the Federal Government's Ten Point Plan.

"We have an opportunity to educate the wider community, both young and old, on the real stories about Native Title. The Aboriginal community is speaking out to the rest of the community, saying, now is the time to move forward, walking together, learning together, heading towards reconciliation," says Louise Campbell.

To coincide with these events the "Sea of Hands" will be on display in Civic Park from noon on 3 April and the "Sorry Book" will also be available for signing. All of Newcastle is invited to visit this remarkable display of community support for Native Title and reconciliation.

Back to Media Releases