Bec’s Final Address
When we launched Nura Gili News in February 2013 I shared how,
“We want to bring directly to you, current stories, articles
and insights which reflect the quality, progression and
diversity of our students, alumni, staff and participants
in our programs.”
During our first 3 years many of our students, staff and
alumni have provided enriching, thoughtful, responsive,
articulate stories across so many endeavours; stories
which are read, celebrated and shared by many.
Across our 25 issues to date, we’ve had 14,500 people
read Nura Gili News often spending from 8 to 12 minutes
engrossed in any one issue reading our stories; sowing
seeds, inspiring, revitalising others and offering deeper
insights.
Often I receive requests for these stories to be shared
again. So with permission from our authors many stories are republished and/ or extended in
First Nations Telegraph, the Koori Mail, IndigenousX as well as interviews on NITV and Koori
Radio.
As I recently wrote, in a much longer letter to Stan Grant having read his latest book Talking To
My Country:
“Every day I’m inspired and learn from so many of my Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders
friends, colleagues, students and the great array of incredibly diverse, resilient leaders from
across the many First Nations of this land . The fortitude of your people who traverse so many
challenges daily, often from the margins when rightly your place belongs in the centre; where
more of us could join with you learning, valuing and building together
In 2003, I returned home to live in Australia after 21 years overseas, having left age 14 in
1982 with my parents. My experiences overseas, taught me so much and opened my eyes so
when I returned home here for a visit in 1999 I saw this place, the society we live in and was so
shocked by what I saw and determined to play a part, however small to be a person who would
foster opportunities for transformational growth and change through listening working and learning together, challenging myself and others with care, respect, transparency and integrity.”
These are some of the reasons I’m thrilled for our new editors of Nura Gili News: Polly
Scott-Funaki and Monique Peachey; two proud young ar