Wantok 2014 Media Release 26-03-2014

WANTOK 2014 (Mackay) Prioritizes Governance Education and Democratic Representation at the Mackay March Forum

Cook Lecture Theatre – Central Queensland University Mackay – 28–31 March 2014

Emelda Davis, President of the Interim National Body for the Australian South Sea Islanders announces: “The WANTOK 2014 Australian South Sea Islanders Mackay Forum will prioritise governance education and democratic representation when South Sea Islanders from all around the region meet in Mackay. This national forum will determine how to work together to draft a constitution.”

The forum will be hosted at the Central Queensland University in Mackay 28 – 31 March and will be facilitated by independent moderator, Michael Chapman. Over the last five year Michael has worked with many culturally diverse organisations.

The first day of the Forum will see the important educational session “Working together to draft a constitution” facilitated by Darren Fittler from Gilbert and Tobin, one of the nation’s leading law firms. Delegates will explore vital issues associated with understanding what a constitution means and how it operates, the status and responsibilities of an unincorporated working committee, and how a governance model for a federation may work.

One of the key initiatives for the Forum will be to consider a motion to dissolve the former Wantok 2013 Governance Model and replace this with the selection of a National ASSI Governance Working Group (NASSIG) and the formation of Friends of NASSI initiative. The proposed brief of the Work Group is to deliver a Constitution for an incorporated association which will be presented to the ASSI community for possible adoption by Friends of NASSI at a special meeting.

Emelda Davis stated: “The proposed new structure will give our people the necessary means to deal with important ASSI matters that have remained largely invisible to the political processes that direct government policy. Tens of thousands of people in our communities have been disadvantaged through the impact of an indentured labour trade akin to slavery which was imposed on their forebears who were brought to this country to establish the economical base of Australia in sugar and cotton plantations of the mid 19th century.”

“Today there are issues of educational, social and economic disadvantage to address amongst our people. We also need assistance to strengthen our culture and connect back to our families in the Pacific,” Ms Davis continued.

“The delivery of the structure for a national body has been several years in the making. Considerable work has been undertaken by ASSI (Port Jackson), the Interim National ASSI Secretariat, which was given this responsibility at the 2012 WANTOK (Bundaberg) conference,” said Ms Davis.

Conference delegates will also be discussing opportunities to educate ASSI communities about the importance of the National Census and to influence how information about our communities is defined and collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The Forum will be opened by the Mackay Mayor Deirdie Comeford and Jason Costigan, Member for Whitsunday (Representing Glen Elms, Queensland Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs) with speeches given by Tim Mulherin, Member for Mackay, Patron Mrs Bonito Mabo – AO, Aunty Rowena Trieve – AO (former MADASSIA President), Starret Vea Vea (MADASSIA President), Emelda Davis (ASSI.PJ President).

For more information and interview with Emelda Davis please contact:

Marie Geissler: 0416 285 727

Emelda Davis:0416 300 946

PDF Transcript can be downloaded HERE.

WANTOK 2013 Brisbane – Landmark achievement after 41 years of struggle.

The Hon. Jane Prentice on behalf of Prime Minister Tony Abbott

MEDIA RELEASE – 24th November 2013
2013 Landmark achievement after 41 years of struggle. The Australian South Sea
Islander (ASSI) community vote in a Secretariat Board of Directors and a
National Secretariat (ASSI.PJ)

WANTOK 2013 ASSI National Capacity Building Forum which was held at the State Library in Brisbane from 1-3 November saw the ASSI community come together after forty-one years of struggle, to nominate a national representative voice.

The election outcomes for the WANTOK this year were indeed important for all Australian South Sea Islanders. It was the first time in forty-one years that elections were successfully undertaken for ASSI people for the membership of a National Secretariat and Representative Board to represent their many interests. These bodies will now be able to provide a united voice to Government and other audiences in relation to ASSI social, economic, educational, historic and cultural concerns.

The event commenced with a Welcome to Country by local traditional owner Aunty Carole Currie, a South East Queensland Elder from Jugura Country, and Aunty Jenni Willie who provided ASSI acknowledgement on behalf of all ASSI. Hon. Jane Prentice, MP, Federal Member for Ryan in Brisbane represented Prime Minister Tony Abbott and our revered Chairperson, Mrs. Bonito Mabo AO also spoke.

We had distinguished international representation from Vanuatu with the attendance for the duration of the Forum of Paramount Chiefs representing the Vanuatu Indigenous Descendants Association (VIDA), as well as the Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, Minister for Lands in Vanuatu. An authentic South Sea Islander touch was introduced in the entertainment with the colourful performances by 30 dancers from Tanna Island, TAFEA Australian Connections Community and Vanuatu singers. Local VIPs included Brisbane Deputy Lord Mayor Cr. Angela Owen-Taylor, Tim Mulherin, Member for Mackay in Queensland Parliament, and Settlement and Multicultural Affairs Queensland Manager Sue Charnley.

The Forum program provided delegates with a variety of interesting and inspirational speakers who related moving stories of reconnection to family and working in community. It was professionally facilitated by ASSI Paramount Chief Duane Vickery.

The election process was democratic and undertaken in open forum, allowing robust debates, where issues were given expression and the diversity of input was noted for consideration.

Highlights of in the program were speeches by Hon. Ralph Regenvanu on the proposedupcoming changes in the Vanuatu constitution which will see dual citizenship given to Ni Vanuatu under certain conditions, and Mr. Les Meltzer Co-Chair of National Congress for Australia’s First Peoples who spoke about Australia and matters in relation to its human rights representation on the United Nations.

National coordinator and President of the National Secretariat, Waskam Emelda Davis says:

“The forum was intense and heartfelt. We were all there for the good of the community and need for change.

Australian South Sea Islanders need one voice to lobby and implement change for our communities.

The Secretariat Board reflects a strong and diverse skill base that represents knowledge of our history, education, policy and health industry professionals, all complimented with a strong media and marketing vision. With this strength we can move mountains.

I am honoured to be given the opportunity to work with such a diverse and committed group of people and of course the Port Jackson branch who were voted in
as the National Secretariat and would like to personally thank the community for having faith in our capabilities.”

The National Secretariat on their return to Sydney have continued discussions with the Community Relations Commission, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia Council for the Arts and follow up talks are to be held with the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples and a number of influential State and Federal agencies.

Please find below links to the website which will provide further insight into the Brisbane forum and will also be updated after our next Wantok to be held in Tweed Heads on the 7th and 8th December.

watch video: Wantok 2012 National Conference – Bundaberg Queensland

Nelson Mandela: A humble freedom fighter

Article Published in Torres News – Dated: 16-22 December 2013:

Torres Strait at ‘heart’ of South Sea Islander history

Article Published in Torres News – Dated: 16-22 December 2013:

Australian South Sea Islanders Receive Federal Grant for Community, Cultural and Economic Capacity Building.

Australian South Sea Islanders (ASSI) Receive $50,000 Federal Grant for Community, Cultural and Economic Capacity Building.

Emelda Davis, President of The Australian South Sea Islanders-Port Jackson (ASSI-PJ) announced today that she “would like to sincerely thank Senator Kate Lundy, Minister for Multicultural Affairs Canberra for the receipt of a $50,000 Community Development Grant. The monies will be used to stage three educational and fact-finding, community capacity building workshops for ASSI people over the next 12 months.”

Patron for the ASSI.PJ, Mrs Bonita Mabo added her support, saying that “This is the first ever major funding that Australian South Sea Islanders have seen in 150 years in recognition of the contribution made by our people including our forefathers to the building of this great nation. I would like to thank the Prime Minister and Senator Kate Lundy for their support.”

Ms Davis said that “The funding is a very overdue, but much appreciated, Federal initiative representing an historic milestone in the history of the acknowledgement of the significant contributions made by Australian South Sea Islanders within the Australian community. It will be used to progress the much needed process of cultural education, connection and healing between ASSI and broader community groups in Australia.”

2013 marks a significant 150 years since 55,000 South Sea Islanders (95% male) were bought to Queensland, Australia on 62,000 indentured contracts to establish sugar, maritime and pastoral industries. Many of these men and women did not return to their Island homes and 15,000 (a third) lost their lives to common disease to which they lacked immunity.

During the implementation of the White Australia Policy a mass deportation of some 7,000 SSI’s occurred, and 1,600 were allowed to remain under humanitarian circumstances. Several hundred more had crossed the border into NSW in the 1890s and 1900s to escape the more severe conditions in Queensland.

1992 saw the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission published a Report which called for recognition of the ASSI community as a distinct ethnic group within Australian. This was followed by Commonwealth recognition in 1994.

In 1995 NSW Premier Bob Carr advised ministers to include ASSI’s in all programs and services. This memorandum has been overlooked to date.

In 2000 Premier Peter Beattie recognised ASSIs in Queensland, yet despite these official gestures there was little sustained government assistance to the ASSI community.

On 15th August 2013 Alex Greenwich, Independent Member for Sydney supported the ASSI-PJ with a timely motion seeking meaningful debate recognising ASSIs and gaining unanimous support from all parties in the NSW Parliament – seeing two Ministers and five Members speak strongly in favour of the overdue recognition of ASSI.

For NSW, 2013 marks 166 years since the first South Sea Islanders were bought to Eden by entrepreneur Ben Boyd who had already used Aboriginal, Maori and Pacific Islands labourers in his whaling industry ventures. Worried about not having sufficient labour for his pastoral properties, in 1847 he decided to experiment with bringing in a Pacific Islanders workforce, without waiting for government permission. This was a humanitarian disaster.

Ms Davis said: ‘Our organisation prides it self on being the interim national representative body that has led by example through meaningful collaboration with governments, and educational, community organisations and agencies. The ASSI.PJ team acknowledges the trust and respect that has been entrusted through the grants that are now being received by this group through the Commonwealth.’

Capacity building workshops are titled ‘Wantok 150’ and will take place in Mackay, QLD and Tweed Heads, NSW.

A major forum was held in Brisbane at the State Library Queensland in early November with the Library also donating $10,000 worth of resources in recognition of 150 years.

New group to represent South Sea Islanders | SBS News

Australian South Sea Islanders have established a national body to lobby for their interests at a federal level.

At a meeting in Brisbane, representatives of the estimated 40,000 strong community in Australia elected a national president and board.

They represent the descendants of so-called “blackbirds”, Pacific islanders who were kidnapped or broughtas contract labourers to Queensland to work in the agricultural industry between 1863 and 1906.

President Emelda Davis from the Port Jackson branch of the group, told Queensland correspondent Stefan Armbruster it is a long overdue development.

“This is huge for Australian South Sea Islanders simply because it’s been 40 years since the last significant conference addressing the national voice,” Emelda Davis says.

“We believe we’re that ready to do the work to lobby governments and work with the international platforms to assist us to reconnect with our families and capacity-building.”

Listen to the full interview at SBS World News.

Australian South Sea Islanders National Representative Board

Australian South Sea Islanders National Representative Board.

The election held at WANTOK 2013, on the 3rd of November heralded the Australian South Sea Islanders National Representative Board… a landmark achievement.

The board members are – Natalie Pakoa – President, Dennis Bobongie – Vice President, Alan Johnson – Treasurer, Jennifer Darr – Secretary, Lesley Yasso, Natalie Franks, Louise Pfeffer, Sandra Georgio, Christine Monday, Darryl Lingwoodock, Fiona Mount, Emelda Davis.

Professor Gracelyn Smallwood speaks out to Australian South Sea Islanders

Professor Gracelyn Smallwood speaks out to Australian South Sea Islanders with her talk on ‘Community Cohesion and Activism’ at this year’s Wantok 2013 National Forum.

As a surviving descendant of the Blackbirding trade in Australia between 1863 and 1908, Professor Smallwood will be presenting a talk on ‘Community Cohesion and Activism’ at this years Wantok 2013 Australian South Sea Islanders National Forum in her capacity as leader of the Historical Advisory Panel to the ASSI.PJ interim national body.

Smallwood says… “When people in general don’t understand the history of Slavery they internalise their pain and take it out on the very people that are trying to promote unity, justice and reparation”. She looks forward to presenting at Wantok 2013 and answering any questions.

Emelda Davis says… “The ASSI-PJ board are humbled that Professor Smallwood is a volunteer advisor to the interim national body with her high range of qualifications. We look forward to Gracelyn’s presentation and continued work with our organisation.”

As well as a being scholar in residence at Drexel University Philadelphia USA, Gracelyn has lectured in cross-cultural studies at the East-West Centre in Hawaii and has also lectured at Universities in the West Indies comparing the philosophy of the late Marcus Garvey, Civil Rights Movement of the world with that of the South Sea Islander (Kanaka Slavery in Australia). Continue reading →

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Australian South Sea Islanders – Port Jackson

Representing the interests of Australian South Sea Islander people.