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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 8 Hansard (26 August) . . Page.. 2380 ..

MRS BATES (continuing):

Towards the end of the 1970s I had some work in Wilcannia and asked Dad several times would he come. "Oh", he said, "I might come for the ride". On a hot, dusty December afternoon we pulled into the kerb in front of the one and only grocery store to find an old black woman sitting on the front step staring at us. A look of recognition came over her face and with much difficulty, as she was a very big woman, she got up, and they then embraced. That will be a memory that I will always carry, as it was the only time I saw my father cry. As quickly as he did, he turned away. It was also an overwhelming experience witnessing the people of Wilcannia welcoming him home. I thought that on the long drive back to Bourke Dad would open up and tell me about himself and his family. But not a word was spoken in relation to any of that; nor, for that matter, did we talk about anything else.

I would catch a glimpse of him every so often staring out onto the plains, deep in thought, and I wondered what memories were going through his mind. He died two years after that one and only visit. He was aged 53. So, that was Dad's experience of being brought back home to Barkindji country. Uncle Batesy also returned to Wilcannia and would spend short periods of time there; but from what information we have gathered he would never contemplate living there with his relatives. We lost Uncle Batesy a few years ago; but we are ever so grateful that we knew and loved him before he died.

I often think about the times on our verandah, during hot nights in Bourke, with us 12 kids talking about the politics of the town. Even at a young age, we kids and Dad would debate and discuss what we saw as inequalities and what we would like to see happen. Included in all of this was the constant, repetitious reminding of us by him to get an education and that there was a world outside of Bourke. Sadly, he never lived to see several of us don the black robe and doff the mortarboard. But we still sit around late at night when we are all at home and continue talking about those politics.

I have seen in my generation changes for the better over the years. We have come down a long road and are slowly turning the corner with regard to indigenous rights. I want to acknowledge the apology the ACT Government has publicly stated and thank you for this opportunity you have given me to speak today. So, that is just a small story of an Aboriginal man who died with a dark secret but who always had his family to support him, and in particular a strong woman, my mother.

MR SPEAKER: I thank Mrs Bates-McKay for her remarks.

Serjeant-at-Arms: Members, Mr Caine George, who is the 1997 NAIDOC Young Person of the Year.

MR GEORGE: Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the Ngunnawal people. I thank the Speaker for the invitation to address the Assembly on this historic occasion. I applaud the ACT Government for the passing of a motion to extend an apology to the Ngunnawal people and all the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT for the hurt and distress inflicted upon them as a result of the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. I also acknowledge the ACT Government's negotiation of a regional agreement with the Ngunnawal people in relation to the Ngunnawal native title claim in the ACT.

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