FORMER Senator Aden Ridgeway will be in Port Macquarie on Friday 22 November spreading the important message of how we can all play a part in working towards a reconciled Australia.
Dr Ridgeway rose from poverty and a childhood on an Aboriginal reserve, to be the first indigenous person elected as a parliamentary leader, after entering the Senate for the Democrats in 1999 as only the second Aboriginal federal politician in history.
Dr Ridgeway will join Jo-Anne Kelly, the CEO Kempsey Aboriginal Land Council and chairwoman of the Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance, for a very special evening of ideas and discussion at the Glasshouse in Port Macquarie.
Dr Ridgeway and Ms Kelly will share their personal stories, visions for a reconciled Australia and lead a Q&A discussion.
‘A Connected Australia’ will be held from 6pm-8pm and includes wine and refreshments. Tickets are $18 and can be booked through the Glasshouse box office on 6581 8888 or online at www.glasshouse.org.au
The evening marks the lead-up the 2014 Saltwater Freshwater Festival. The free annual festival is the Mid North Coast’s showcase of the region’s living Aboriginal culture, a unique opportunity for everyone to connect on Australia Day and celebrate Aboriginal culture with music, family fun, food, discussion, craft, dance and market stalls.
The festival was launched five years ago by a collective of 10 local Aboriginal Land Councils and is held in a different location each year. Next year it is Kempsey’s turn.
“The message we want to share: if you want to do something locally for reconciliation, come to the festival in Kempsey – and bring your family and friends too – everyone is welcome,” Dr Ridgeway said.
“Thousands of people coming together to celebrate in Kempsey on Australia Day sends a clear message locally and nationally that we are a modern Australia and that there is massive support for reconciliation.”
