Mayor Message – Mayor Liz Schmidt - Acknowledgement of Country

Over a year ago the Indigenous Reference Group was established in Charters Towers and includes representatives from the Family Groups of the Gudjala Traditional owners, myself as Mayor, Cr Graham Lohmann, Council staff and local representatives from Queensland Police Service.

The Group provides a platform where members can engage on:

The Group also provides a communication conduit between schools, training organisations, community organisations, just to name a few, with the Traditional Owners. 

One of the Group’s first tasks was to collaborate on an Acknowledgement of Country and to create signage to display this Acknowledgment. The project came to fruition after significant consultation between Council, Traditional Owners and Amnesty International.

The Acknowledgement of Country signage was unveiled 2 weeks ago and is on display at Council’s Administration Centre.

“Acknowledgement of Country

Charters Towers Regional Council is committed to honouring Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to our society.

We acknowledge the people of the Gudjala first nation lands on which Charters Towers is located and where we conduct our business. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present.

We are committed to a positive future for all.”

This Acknowledgement is one step towards the development of Council’s Reconciliation Plan for this Region and already significant consultation has begun in respect to this document.

I take this opportunity to thank the Elders, in particular Val Alberts, for approaching me to form such a group. It is my intention to ensure that this group functions beyond local government election cycles.

It’s council’s belief that all sections of the community have a voice and we are working to provide working and advisory groups where needed during this term.

- Mayor Liz Schmidt

OGG 12 October, 2018