Summary of the Annual Report of Sutherland Shire Reconciliation Inc

2021

A new structure for SSR

At the 2021 Annual General Meeting in April, we officially changed our name to Sutherland Shire Reconciliation Inc. (SSR Inc). We updated the constitution; and agreed to become Incorporated. When we formed in June 1997, the registered business name was Sutherland Shire Citizens for Native Title and Reconciliation. In May 2021 we were incorporated through Fair Trading NSW under the Associations’ Incorporation Act 2009.

Committee meetings were held bimonthly or monthly as needed, at times on Zoom or face to face at Tradies in Gymea or Orana in Sutherland. A number of members and interested local people attended the Committee Meetings from time to time.

COVID - we were disrupted but not distracted

While COVID disruptions and lockdowns restricted the number of face-to-face events we held during 2021, SSR Inc remained active in the community with major initiative and events.

Yarning Circles

When COVID restrictions allowed, Yarning Circles were held monthly. These were organised and publicised in collaboration with Orana. The typical pattern involved participants sharing stories over a cup of tea or coffee. Occasionally there was a speaker. Between 6 and 12 people attended each event.

School Starter Packs

Originally conceived by Aunty Dolly in 2020 ‘School Starter Packs’ were to be given to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children as they started Kindergarten in 2021 in the Sutherland Shire. The scope quickly expanded to include Years 1 and 2 children as well. The hope was that these Packs would provide positive value for the children and their families through learning more about their Indigenous heritage.

Included in the pack was Young Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe, the Dharawal picture dictionary, three flags and an Aboriginal Australia cultural map and stationery. Attached to each pack were hand made braided ties in colours of the Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander flags.
The School Packs were delivered to 56 Shire Primary Schools, and where COVID restrictions permitted, Aunty Dolly personally presented these to the children at a small ceremony. Survey feedback indicated that the packs were well received by the schools, children and their families. A small number of deliveries will take place in 2022 to complete this project.