Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Heath Ledger Remembrance Forum
How to contribute to sending flowers/condolences to Australia
Ellemeno:
--- Quote from: Peachy on February 09, 2008, 07:34:04 am ---
For Aboriginal children, I've found www.reconciliation.org.au, which is Australia-wide but might be able to direct funds to WA. One of its directors visited my town recently so I could even try to contact him if necessary.
--- End quote ---
http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/news/local/general/indigenous-apology-welcomed/1172761.html
31 January 2008 - 9:24AM
Indigenous apology welcomed
Danielle Cronin
The Federal Government's decision to apologise to the Stolen Generations would be a significant step towards healing, according to Ngunnawal elder Matilda House, who will play a pivotal role in the historic event.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin announced yesterday the Government would make the formal apology on February 13.
"A national apology to the Stolen Generations and their families is a first, necessary step to move forward from the past," Ms Macklin said.
"The apology will be made on behalf of the Australian Government and does not attribute guilt to the current generation of Australian people."
Ms House said the apology meant "everything".
"This is part of the reconciliation of Aboriginal and non-indigenous Australians," she said.
"It will be the beginning of a healing process for people on both sides and the acknowledgment of what had happened in the past."
Ms Macklin announced that Ms House would deliver the welcome to country in the Members Hall at Parliament House on February 12.
"A welcome to country is about paying respect to the traditional owners of a particular region [and] this welcome will carry national significance in symbolising a future of respect and partnership with indigenous people," she said.
The welcome to country would be part of the official opening ceremony for Parliament.
Ms House a mother of four and grandmother of 12 said it was a first. "An Aboriginal person has never, ever done this before so it is historical. It's something that will go down in history," she said.
Ms Macklin said she would continue to "consult widely" to come up with the wording for the formal apology which would be the "first item of business" for the new Parliament.
She hoped there would be bipartisan support for the apology, but the Coalition was making no commitments yesterday.
Opposition spokesman on indigenous affairs Tony Abbott doubted the Government could find words that would "satisfy the more zealous indigenous activists without deeply disconcerting many other people".
"And I think it would be fair to say we don't regard this as anything like the highest priority in indigenous affairs," Mr Abbott said.
Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson wanted to see the proposed wording for the formal apology.
"With something that is going to divide our country or potentially divide our country, I just sort of say to [Prime Minister Kevin] Rudd I think it would be sensible to hasten slowly on this," Dr Nelson said.
"And at the very least ... let all Australians just have a look at what's being proposed and, as I say, I haven't seen it yet."
Mr Rudd said the apology was "unfinished business" for the nation.
"It's building a bridge of respect which I think has been in some state of disrepair in recent decades," he said.
"But having crossed that bridge, the other part of it is all about practical business. Closing the gap in terms of life expectancy, infant mortality, skills attainments and health outcomes for indigenous people, is the core business."
Stolen Generations Alliance's Christine King was "overwhelmed" the Government had finally set the date to say sorry.
She said it was important the word "sorry" actually be used in the apology. "Sorry is the most important word because it has great meaning in our community, it means having empathy and compassion and understanding."
Kerry:
--- Quote from: Mikaela on February 09, 2008, 06:13:32 am ---"Cremated" - such a very final word. It hit me hard. Nothing left now, except memories and images and films.
:'(
*sigh*
Thank you Kerry for explaining about the wreath of flowers and that it probably found its way to the right place despite the earlier semi-public info being inaccurate. Is there any way to be sure?
I suppose it's time to decide where our donation should go. Being so far from either NYC or Australia I have little specific input as to relevant charities, but as before I think the donation should go to something to do with kids who need support, either due to ill health or to develop their gift of creativity.
I was wondering whether there might be some way of donating to an organization working to improve the lives of Australian indigenous (aboriginal) kids. From the (far too) little I know some or many of them live in quite poor conditions.They are Heath's fellow countrymen...He was uneasy with the superficial glitz and glamour of Hollywood - well, they live their lives as far from that as it's possible to get....
--- End quote ---
When I placed my order with Interflora, I was given a reference number. I will be phoning them in the next couple of days, quoting that number, and seeking confirmation that my floral tribute was delivered to the appropriate address at the appropriate time. Suggest Peachy do likewise re the BetterMost tribute. Interflora would have also given Peachy a reference number when she placed the BetterMost order.
Kerry:
--- Quote from: Peachy on February 09, 2008, 07:34:04 am ---Mikaela, regarding donations: I saw that Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in Perth put in a newspaper notice for Heath. I expect he supported them either with a visit or a donation. PMH is often a charity of choice in WA.
For Aboriginal children, I've found www.reconciliation.org.au, which is Australia-wide but might be able to direct funds to WA. One of its directors visited my town recently so I could even try to contact him if necessary.
--- End quote ---
From what I've read in the press, the charities Heath supported were HIV and sick children.
For that reason I would veer towards donating to the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in Perth, as Peachy mentioned.
We only have K$1 so IMHO I feel it would be best to donate to just one charity, rather than dividing it up among several.
Though it is certainly a noble sentiment to consider donating to aboriginal children, was this one of Heath's charities?
If it should be decided to donate to aboriginal children, I work closely with the aboriginal health unit within the health facility where I work. I am on a first-name basis with the director of the aboriginal health unit. I would be honoured to liaise with her, on BetterMost's behalf, to obtain the names of suitable aboriginal health children's services in Western Australia.
However, before doing so, I think we must seriously consider where Heath would want the funds to be donated, not where we think they should go, IMHO.
Peachy:
Oh - DAMMIT!
Kerry, you'd better check - I've got an email that they couldn't process my order. :( :( I wish they'd phoned me! I hope yours went through at least.
I'm so, so sorry, Brokies. :( :( I hate telling you this.
So should I either put it through again for the cemetery at some point, or send the money back to you, Meryl? If it would help, I can pay for a wreath myself.
Mikaela:
--- Quote from: Kerry on February 09, 2008, 07:56:42 am ---From what I've read in the press, the charities Heath supported were HIV and sick children.
[ ] Though it is certainly a noble sentiment to consider donating to aboriginal children, was this one of Heath's charities?
[ ]
However, before doing so, I think we must seriously consider where Heath would want the funds to be donated, not where we think they should go, IMHO.
--- End quote ---
I agree with you of course, I've got no axe to grind here. My reason for proposing this was given in my previous post. :)
Unless Heath worked very actively for some specific charity though (and I don't think he did?), or his family says something specific now after the funeral about where donations might go in Heath's honour, I think suitable suggestions from Brokies should be allowed to be put forward.... I don't know if Heath supported aboriginal kid &health issues - but I can't imagine he'd be opposed or wouldn't approve to such a donation in his name - one that in a way was tied to his Aussie heritage and his interests both.
--- Quote ---I would be honoured to liaise with her, on BetterMost's behalf, to obtain the names of suitable aboriginal health children's services in Western Australia.
--- End quote ---
This sounds like a very good ide, that would ensure a donation made would reach someone who could really use it. Thank you! :) I think I'd like to propose that, then, as one of the possible donations we vote for.
(Peachy, thank you for the Reconciliation Australia LInk. I had a look at their site and their objective sounds good, but it doesn't seem they've got any concrete kid-related projects that seem fitting that might be donated to.)
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