A POLL has been launched to gauge the level of support for the establishment of an Aboriginal memorial.
Views are invited from both the Aboriginal and the wider community for a proposed memorial to acknowledge and commemorate contributions of Aboriginal people to the Armidale area.
“There is currently no memorial in Armidale which recognises the significant contributions of Aboriginal people to our community and country,” said Steve (Dugan) Widders, Anaiwan Elder and Community Liaison Officer with Armidale Dumaresq Council.
“Aboriginal people have lived in the Armidale area for 30,000-40,000 years or more.
“Armidale particularly has been a meeting place for many Aboriginal peoples. In fact Armidale has been a place of education and learning for many millennia. Various Aboriginal peoples would regularly come together in the high country to exchange knowledge.”
Starfish Enterprises have been engaged by Armidale Dumaresq Council to assess the feasibility of creating of an Aboriginal memorial.
“We are keen to know the views of as many interested people as we can,” said Adam Blakester, the lead researcher for Starfish. “This poll is one of a several streams of research being undertaken. The study is also looking at the lessons from other Aboriginal memorials around the country – funding opportunities, possible sites as well as the creative design and maintenance requirements for the memorial itself.”
The poll is just a few questions and can be completed online at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ArmidaleAboriginalMemorial
The poll will be open for comments until 17 May, 2013.
In addition to the poll, submissions can also be made via email, phone and a face to face meeting scheduled for 9.30-11.30am on 8 May, 2013. This will be held in Armidale and an RSVP is required. Details to RSVP are below.
Submissions can be made to either Adam Blakester or Dugan (aka Steve) Widders. RSVP’s are required for face to face meetings. Contact details are: adam@starfishenterprises.net | 02 6775 2501 | 0419 808 900 or swidders@armidale.nsw.gov.au | (02) 6770 3865 | 0411 609 041.
