Welcome to Country

The beginning of this term of Council commenced with a 'Welcome to Country' ceremony conducted by Mr Ray Kelly and his daughters.

It was a moving ceremony and Mr Kelly wished to have more wonderful things happening to bring both communities together and congratulated the Lord Mayor and Councillors on their election to office.

I raised the matter in Council in February and the ceremony was arranged through Council's Guraki Committee.

The idea of the ceremony at the commencement of the Council term is in keeping with Council's Commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of the City of Newcastle.



Extract from the February Council meeting:

Councillor Osborne advised that Parliament was opened on 12 February 2008 with a 'Welcome to Country' by the Indigenous people. He proposed that the motion include a Part B which required the next Council of Newcastle City Council to be opened with a 'Welcome to Country' and that such event occur after the Local Government elections.

Draft minutes of the Council meeting of 12 February 2008 with the minutes confirmed at the next Council meeting.