Page 3193 - Week 10 - Thursday, 25 September 2014
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Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away to the next room.
I am I and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other,
That, we still are.
Call me by my old familiar name.
Speak to me in the easy way
which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word
that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect.
Without the trace of a shadow on it.
I will not read any more, but I think they are beautiful words by Henry Scott Holland, and they sum up so much of what I believe Kurt would want us to think and to do now.
I offer my deepest sympathy to Kurt’s parents, his brother and sister, and all of his family and friends. Kurt will long be remembered.
DR BOURKE (Ginninderra): At Kurt’s funeral service, Aunty Agnes Shea spoke of her respect for Kurt and commended his interest in improving the recognition of the traditional custodians of the ACT, in conjunction with the United Ngunnawal Elders Council.
Earlier this year Kurt had decided that consideration should be given to strengthening the recognition of the original custodians of this land by government representatives in public speeches, as is ACT government policy. He met with me and we talked about how a motion to this year’s ACT ALP conference could be framed and that this would begin discussion within the party on the issue.
There are many reasons why acknowledgement is important. It pays respect to Aboriginal people’s culture and heritage and shares Aboriginal cultural practices with the broader community, promoting better understanding. It demonstrates Aboriginal cultures and cultural practices are living through ceremonies and protocols, and it recognises the unique position of Aborigines which can assist in building partnerships.
Kurt was keen to see the use of language, Ngunnawal language, as part of the acknowledgement—and that this should be with the agreement of the United Ngunnawal Elders Council. We talked about how this could be achieved respectfully, and I was impressed with his rapid grasp of the need to involve the ACT ALP Indigenous Labor Network. Kurt came to our network meeting in April, where his proposal was greeted with support and appreciation.
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