Aboriginal?

[nioka]

Hello Nioka,

Thank you for describing your experience. You are to be congratulated. It can't have been easy.

Can you say what primarily motivated you to make the effort to achieve what you have?

Was it a fundamental belief in yourself? Encouragement from others?
A realisation that if you didn't achieve some educational qualifications you'd be for ever at "the bottom of the heap"? The desire for a good quality of life/standard of living, as distinct from an existence on the dole?

Julia

Motivation 1. Got married, had kids and needed to make more money.
2. Was farming had a bad drought and needed to get the banks off my back.
3. Whitlam gave out free UNI education at the same time he increased our interest payments on a farm loan so one offset the other.
4. Malcom Frazer reminded me life wasn't meant to be easy.
5 My good wife says I am a workaholic ( at74 I'm still working.)

 

[nioka]

P.S. for reply to Julia.
I never meant I had a HARD life. It wasn't all that hard and it has certainly has been eventful. I just advise anyone to get stuck in and have a go. No one will do it for you.

 

[Julia]

P.S. for reply to Julia.
I never meant I had a HARD life. It wasn't all that hard and it has certainly has been eventful. I just advise anyone to get stuck in and have a go. No one will do it for you.

Thanks, Nioka. Great reply.

Julia

 

[Happy]

August 22, 2006
Boredom, neglect fuelled Woorabinda riot, mayor says
Aboriginal leaders say a group of up to 40 youths went on a violent rampage in a central Queensland Indigenous community because they were bored and neglected by their parents.
Investigations are continuing this morning into the cause of the riot in the Woorabinda community, west of Rockhampton, after the trouble flared late on Sunday night.
Details about the incident were not released to the media until last night.
As many as 40 youths, aged between 11 and 15, damaged the police station, the primary school, work sheds, a small shop and other buildings.
When police arrived, their car was pelted with rocks, bottles and sticks.
Police enlisted the help of elders and community leaders to end the riot.
The police have identified 34 of those allegedly involved.
Sixteen have been arrested and charged, some have been released, and a number are being held in custody in Rockhampton until the matter is fully investigated.
The Mayor of Woorabinda, Roderick Tobane, says the motive for the incident appears to be boredom.
He says parents need to take more responsibility for their children.
He says the kids are frustrated by a lack of facilities in the community and their parents are not helping.
"They weren't drunk, they are just bored, being neglected. There is a handful of them that are being neglected," he said.
"They are not getting the right care and love that they need."
He says there is no major damage to community infrastructure.
"There is not hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage," he said.
"It's just young fellows out on the street after 10:00pm, after 11:00pm, making life a misery for people who own services in the community, with the police as well.
"Apparently they ran and threw bricks through the window at the police station. It is just sheer boredom."

Yes we don’t know how hard it is to live in remote community and how boring.

I wander what other excuses elders can come up when this one wears out.

 

[Happy]

From ABC August 22, 2006
Minister blames parents for Woorabinda riot


Queensland's Police Minister Judy Spence says parents, and not police, should take responsibility for a violent rampage by up to 40 children and teenagers in the Aboriginal community of Woorabina.
Up to 10 people are expected to face court over the incident in Central Queensland.
The troubled flared late on Sunday night but details about the incident were not made public until last night.
Ms Spence says the violence, which involved 11 to 15-year-olds, is a sad indictment on parents.
"We really have to ask ourselves what's happening in the families, in these homes where people don't know where their young people are or think it's acceptable for them to be out in the community late at night behaving in that fashion," Ms Spence said.
"I mean police can only do so much really. The responsibly for our children must come back to the family."
Opposition police spokesman Vaughan Johnson says the Government must accept some responsibility for the riot.
"This again is a total breakdown of government policy and policy that is not working in Aboriginal communities," he said.
"It's not just Woorabinda, it's right across the state that the Government has to look at the situation and make certain that they find that there's activities for these young people to do and make certain that they've got purpose in life."

Not reported earlier, maybe should not be reported at all?

Opposition really asks government to make purpose of life for young people.
Again, absolutely no effort required from individuals involved.

They will just sit back on sit down money and point out that this is bad and that’s worse and that they have no purpose in life.

I might say, another circle is closed and it will run in circles and who knows what will be the end effect?

 

[Julia]

Not reported earlier, maybe should not be reported at all?

Opposition really asks government to make purpose of life for young people.
Again, absolutely no effort required from individuals involved.

They will just sit back on sit down money and point out that this is bad and that’s worse and that they have no purpose in life.

I might say, another circle is closed and it will run in circles and who knows what will be the end effect?

Should their dole money be made conditional on them doing something constructive instead of just passively finding it in their bank accounts?

Julia

 

[bunyip]

August 22, 2006
Boredom, neglect fuelled Woorabinda riot, mayor says
Aboriginal leaders say a group of up to 40 youths went on a violent rampage in a central Queensland Indigenous community because they were bored and neglected by their parents.
Investigations are continuing this morning into the cause of the riot in the Woorabinda community, west of Rockhampton, after the trouble flared late on Sunday night.
Details about the incident were not released to the media until last night.
As many as 40 youths, aged between 11 and 15, damaged the police station, the primary school, work sheds, a small shop and other buildings.
When police arrived, their car was pelted with rocks, bottles and sticks.
Police enlisted the help of elders and community leaders to end the riot.
The police have identified 34 of those allegedly involved.
Sixteen have been arrested and charged, some have been released, and a number are being held in custody in Rockhampton until the matter is fully investigated.
The Mayor of Woorabinda, Roderick Tobane, says the motive for the incident appears to be boredom.
He says parents need to take more responsibility for their children.
He says the kids are frustrated by a lack of facilities in the community and their parents are not helping.
"They weren't drunk, they are just bored, being neglected. There is a handful of them that are being neglected," he said.
"They are not getting the right care and love that they need."
He says there is no major damage to community infrastructure.
"There is not hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage," he said.
"It's just young fellows out on the street after 10:00pm, after 11:00pm, making life a misery for people who own services in the community, with the police as well.
"Apparently they ran and threw bricks through the window at the police station. It is just sheer boredom."

 

[bunyip]

Posted the above by mistake. Not sure how, must have clicked the button without realising it.

Bunyip

 

[Happy]

Posted the above by mistake. Not sure how, must have clicked the button without realising it.

Bunyip

Not sure if I swallowed the bait, but at 9:43 – time of yours second post you still were in the window of opportunity to edit your previous post.

I think we have 15 or even 20 minutes to do that.

 

[rederob]

Posted the above by mistake. Not sure how, must have clicked the button without realising it.

Bunyip

To be sure to be sure!

 

[bunyip]

Not sure if I swallowed the bait, but at 9:43 – time of yours second post you still were in the window of opportunity to edit your previous post.

I think we have 15 or even 20 minutes to do that.

15 or 20 minutes to edit a post? Far as I knew, as soon as your post appears on the forum, which is almost immediately you post it, it's too late to withdraw or edit it.

 

[Julia]

15 or 20 minutes to edit a post? Far as I knew, as soon as your post appears on the forum, which is almost immediately you post it, it's too late to withdraw or edit it.

Bunyip

When your new post appears first on the thread at the bottom of it there is a button which appears for, I think, around 15 minutes marked "Edit". If you click on this you can either delete or alter the post you have just made.

Julia

 

[bunyip]

Bunyip

When your new post appears first on the thread at the bottom of it there is a button which appears for, I think, around 15 minutes marked "Edit". If you click on this you can either delete or alter the post you have just made.

Julia

OK, thanks Julia, I wasn't aware of that.

I've been in Central and North Queensland for the last four days. In Rockhampton I read a story in the local paper that a 19 year old Woorabinda man had been convicted of selling petrol to the aboriginal kids who were involved in that riot and destruction of property. The 19 year old admitted he'd been supplying petrol to kids for some time, but the demand had become so great recently that he decided to set up a business by selling petrol for $5 for half a coke can full.
The rioters were high on petrol fumes.
The 19 year old 'businessman' was told by the magistrate that "You are a disgrace to your people". He was fined $1500 and given 12 months to pay.

Cheers
Bunyip

 

[bunyip]

Landline program on ABC TV yesterday featured a mud crab farm at Darwin that was being run largely by aborigines.
These people are involved in a responsible enterprise that challenges and interests them, and gives them a decent future.

Attitude, more than any other factor, determines the sort of life that aborigines lead. The same can be said of white people or any other race.
Right attitude, decent lives. Wrong attitude, lousy lives.

Those crab farming aborigines are not wasting their time moaning about how they were dispossessed of their country 200 years ago. They're not sitting on their rear ends waiting for the next handout. They're not destroying themselves and their communities by boozing and sniffing petrol.

They're siezing with both hands the chance to improve themselves and make something of their lives.

I admire the people involved in that mud crab project....they're proof that aborigines can lead worthwhile lives if they have the right attitude and take advantage of the opportunities available to them.
If the same attitude could be instilled in all aborigines, their problems would largely be solved.

Bunyip

 

[macca]

Hi Bunyip,

Yep !! Agree 100%, a friend of mine who is on the local land council was telling me that they have started a kiosk at their premises to train the teens in hospitality.

They have also been able to get 15 teens a start with NPWS as ranger types.

I really do believe that influential members are starting to change the attitude within ATSIC etc and teach those that wish to learn, how to be part of modern society.

Most Aussies will happily help anyone that is seen to be "having a go" instead of the poor buggar me attitude.

There is hope, just needs to be encouraged and given some time.

 

[Bobby]

There was a story on the radio today about Aboriginals who were given free transport from the N.T. to be employed last year to pick fruit, it went on to say that the older ones looked at the trees & fruit, talked to others, walked around, yet expected to get paid

Did anyone else hear this?
like to know the full story.

Bob.

 

[Alfredbra]

August 22, 2006
Boredom, neglect fuelled Woorabinda riot, mayor says
Aboriginal leaders say a group of up to 40 youths went on a violent rampage in a central Queensland Indigenous community because they were bored and neglected by their parents.
Investigations are continuing this morning into the cause of the riot in the Woorabinda community, west of Rockhampton, after the trouble flared late on Sunday night.
Details about the incident were not released to the media until last night.
As many as 40 youths, aged between 11 and 15, damaged the police station, the primary school, work sheds, a small shop and other buildings.
When police arrived, their car was pelted with rocks, bottles and sticks.
Police enlisted the help of elders and community leaders to end the riot.
The police have identified 34 of those allegedly involved.
Sixteen have been arrested and charged, some have been released, and a number are being held in custody in Rockhampton until the matter is fully investigated.
The Mayor of Woorabinda, Roderick Tobane, says the motive for the incident appears to be boredom.
He says parents need to take more responsibility for their children.
He says the kids are frustrated by a lack of facilities in the community and their parents are not helping.
"They weren't drunk, they are just bored, being neglected. There is a handful of them that are being neglected," he said.
"They are not getting the right care and love that they need."
He says there is no major damage to community infrastructure.
"There is not hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage," he said.
"It's just young fellows out on the street after 10:00pm, after 11:00pm, making life a misery for people who own services in the community, with the police as well.
"Apparently they ran and threw bricks through the window at the police station. It is just sheer boredom."

i live in far north QLD and just recently in my area here a small group also went out on the streets on what was described as a "early morning bashing" or something like that, where they walked the city area looking for anyone just to bash, several people were hospitalised one being only a young innocent boy riding a pushbike! they were apparantly bored.

Why is there any reason to do things like this?

 

[dr00]

welcome to perth every day of the week. its not a problem if you dont admit it.

its interesting when you look at for instance robert kennedy's approach to the problems the african americans had back before he was killed. he said just paying them extra money will only make the current problems worse and create new ones. instead of spending any money at all he went out and found large companies and gave them incentives to invest in the black peoples areas to create jobs and infrastructure that benefitted everyone. it worked well and the black people loved him to bits.

kind of reminds me of these cable barriers they are putting on the freeways all over perth now that were banned across europe for their danger to motorcyclists but thats a whole different can of worms...

 

[Happy]

From ABC, September 14, 2006. 6:00am (AEST)
Beattie Cabinet changes anger Indigenous policy advocates


There has been a mixed reaction to Premier Peter Beattie's new look fourth term Cabinet, with Queensland's Indigenous community unhappy with the Ministry changes.
There will be no Indigenous policy portfolio, instead coming under the Communities Ministry.
The Premier says the change will ensure better outcomes for Indigenous people.
But Indigenous advocate Florence Onus says the decision shows a lack of respect and understanding for Indigenous Queenslanders.
"It can be seen as a racist move because our voices are not being heard once again," she said.
"I'm absolutely appalled that the State Government is going this way and I'm sure if a lot of Indigenous people would have got wind of that.
"I'm sure that would have lessened the Labor vote in the last election."

From above quote -

"It can be seen as a racist move because our voices are not being heard once again," she said.

So much for integration and is it clear who wants to be separate?

And if we are citizens of one Australia, why there has to be special treatment of any group of people?

 

[Happy]

From ABC, September 21, 2006
Perth native title claim 'won't affect residents'


The president of the National Native Title Tribunal, Graeme Neate, says the decision to grant a land claim over Perth will have little to no impact on residents.
The Federal Court has recognised the Nyoongar people as the traditional owners of the land and have granted them the right to use it for traditional purposes.
The West Australian Government has indicated it will challenge the decision and Prime Minister John Howard has not ruled out a Federal Government appeal.
But Mr Neate has told the 7:30 Report that the claim would only affect a small proportion of land, mainly vacant Crown land.
"The judge was quite clear in pointing out that the result here is not a pot of gold for the Nyoongar people nor is it a disaster for everybody else," he said.
"He made it quite clear that the backyards of freehold title owners in Perth are unaffected by the claim."

If land was given for traditional purposes, it is only fair to assume that traditional hunting can be staged anywhere, even in the centre of Perth City.

Native title wasn’t given with clauses and exemptions, it was blank cheque and with the same breath comment is made that it doesn’t affect backyards of private owners.

Yes of course, until we have another judge’s interpretation.

Oh well we’ve seen strange judgements before, and all I have to do is somehow try to live my life out, after that it is out of my worries.