There is a deep scar running across our land.
This scar stems from first contact between white man and our Indigenous brethren, and has impacts that last to this day.
Jesus preached reconciliation and loving our neighbour as ourselves, and as his follower, I am called to try to be part of the healing.
At the recent Chaplaincy dinner, which I attended, it was disappointing to learn that despite his involvement with Indigenous communities, Tony Abbott still has not realised the power of words in achieving this.
When asked about the relevance of a Welcome to Country at the Anzac Day service and using many more words than this, he effectively said it was not appropriate.
I know that including a Welcome to Country and acknowledgement of country means a lot to those in my circle who live with the scars of those wounds.
It is a small part we can participate in to try to help with the healing our country desperately needs.
To my Indigenous cousin, friends, colleagues and students, thank you for your gracious welcome. I am honoured to live and work on Yorta Yorta land.
To those who say a Welcome to Country is divisive, it is only so if people choose to fight it – in fact, it is intended to unite and bring together.
If it is not received that way, that is the fault of the hearer.
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