Mayo to headline Surf Coast Reconciliation Week events

FIRST Nations author and advocate Thomas Mayo will share his insights on reconciliation as a guest speaker at the Surf Coast Shire Council’s National Reconciliation Week event.

At the event, which will be hosted in the Surf Coast Shire Council chambers on Monday night, Mr Mayo will educate the community on reconciliation, including the Uluru Statement from the Heart which calls for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament to be enshrined in the Australian Constitution, Truth Telling and Makarrata or Treaty.

The First Nations author will also run a Q and A and book sales and signings on the night for some his books including his most recent The Voice to Parliament Handbook, co-authored with journalist Kerry O’Brien.

Councillor Rose Hodge said securing the Kaurareg Aboriginal and Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander man for Monday evening’s event represented a significant coup for the Surf Coast Shire community.

“Thomas is a respected signatory to the Uluru Statement from the Heart and we are fortunate to have engaged him as we seek to deepen our understanding of the Statement and of meaningful steps towards Reconciliation,” Cr Hodge said.

“Our event will support Reconciliation by providing an opportunity for people to understand the Uluru Statement from the Heart as an invitation which has come directly from First Nations people.

“The invitation is about walking together, recognising Australian identity shaped across millennia and shaping ‘a fuller expression of Australia’s nationhood’.”

National Reconciliation Week will run from May 27 to June 3 and within its theme ‘Be A Voice for Generations’ will encourage all Australians to be voices for Reconciliation in tangible ways in everyday lives.

The Thomas Mayo event will kick off at 6pm in Council chambers and is free to attend.

Those interested can register via ThomasMayoSurfCoast.eventbrite.com