THIS is the season for surveying our future municipal leaders. We found we weren’t the only group tapping into the thoughts and values of candidates for our two Councils.
The Bass Coast South Gippsland Reconciliation Group sent a seven-question survey to all candidates and had a 64 per cent response rate. The questions sought endorsement for many activities that both Councils already do, or have under consideration, and the purpose was partly to see if new candidates were willing to continue and advance these commitments.
We asked questions about support for Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Country; about their knowledge of local Aboriginal history and their willingness to learn more; their interest in undertaking cultural awareness training; their support for Council’s engagement with NAIDOC Week, National Reconciliation Week and other local cultural events; their support for Council appointing a First Nations Advisory Committee and a First Nations Community Development Officer; and support for Council developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
A RAP addresses such issues as First Nations employment, staff and councillor cultural awareness, cultural safety and procurement.
Of the 25 responses we received from 39 candidates, 19 of them were in full or considerable support of all questions. Whilst the questions were posed as Yes/No responses, for speed of response at this busy time, several provided comments on some questions.
Sitting Councillors were more aware of existing arrangements and previous discussions, and in some instances, qualified their responses.
For example, South Gippsland Councillors, Nathan Hersey, Jenni Keerie and Sarah Gilligan were in support of all or most themes but all added to the question of a RAP as they had engaged with Indigenous groups who would prefer a different, negotiated approach.
Nathan Hersey also drew attention to budgetary considerations and wanted to know more detail before committing to a yes/no answer on some questions. He and Scott Rae drew our attention to activities that South Gippsland Council was already doing, Nathan, for example, mentioned that in 2024 Council broke new ground by holding a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony to mark the beginning of the Council sitting year.
Several candidates; David Rooks, Jon Temby and Glenda Minty (all Bass Coast) and Jenni Keerie and Sarah Gilligan made important points about the Advisory Committee needing to have a clear mandate from and consist of, First Nations people, and be clear in its objectives.
Don Hill (SG) said he would welcome stronger dialogue with Indigenous groups. Nikole Schellekens (BC) said that Indigenous voices are central in discussions about land management, environmental stewardship and local decision-making.
Almost every one of the positive responders claimed that they knew very little about local Aboriginal history, but they were willing to learn.
Six candidates were either totally or partially opposed to our questions. Kathleen Murray (SG) sent four links to YouTubes but didn’t answer any questions. Michael Poore (SG) said no to all questions. Rochelle Halstead and John Trigt (both BC) were opposed to the questions regarding a First Nations Advisory Committee, Community Development Officer or RAP.
Scott Rae said he hadn’t read the questions and critiqued the Reconciliation Group’s presentation to Council last year. John Schelling didn’t respond to any questions but provided a statement of his belief in equality and seeking to treat people as he wanted to be treated.
There were no replies from 14 people. Brad Snell (SG) didn’t provide contact details to the Victorian Electoral Commission so we couldn’t contact him. Don Hill sent a text with positive responses but not to the whole set of questions.
Those in substantial or full support of the range of measures signalling First Nations recognition and respect were, in Bass Coast: Caitlyn Robertson, Prudence Scholtes, Brian Robinson, Mat Morgan, Leticia Laing, Marnie Chadwick, Tracey Bell, David Rooks, Tim O’Brien, Jon Temby, Glenda Minty, Nikole Schellekens. In South Gippsland, they were: Sarah Gilligan, Nathan Hersey, Bron Beach, Jenni Keerie, Rosemary Cousin and Aaron Taylor.
Marg Lynn,
Secretary, Bass Coast South Gippsland Reconciliation Group
