Inaugural Conversation at Waverley Library
Bondi Junction

October 15th

Again, it gave me great delight to welcome so many new people to the Conversations family.  A thoughtful and respectful dialogue that was beautifully set up by our special guest speaker, Janette Blainey.

Friday night talk
When I relate to 'Australia Connects' it means people connected with respect to the land that is Australia so that Australia then includes the people connected with the land.

This is hard to say in words constructed as prose.

The acknowledging of the land and the custodial peoples, when groups gather is being practised more and more and I spoke of the benefits of this to all of us and the land and the connections

I spoke about relationship to land and respect for the people who have lived with the land in deep connectedness with it for longer than any other peoples living in the world today.

About belonging and different belongings and the fundamental place of walking this land in connection with it, through respecting the custodial relationship of the original peoples, learning from them what it is to know, and to be with, the land (and the ancestors who have travelled the land before).

I came from the place that sees how our respect for the land allows our network of people connections to be earthed and energised and supports us to be and do, powerfully and connectedly.

It was my intention to have my spirit and my connections with the land and the little I have learned from the original people, be present to touch the spirits of the people present ... in the hope that the place of (the spirit of) land may come to be included in the experience of 'Australia Connects'.

The Conversation that followed this talk delved quite profoundly into the experience of some of the people in the room to this deeper connection.  On reporting this event I am left to refer to Janette's own words, "This is hard to say in words constructed as prose." Whatever I type here is bound to be inadequate.

Altogether a very special evening and we have decided to run here again next month.
Next date for the Waverley Library Theatrette will be on November 19th at 6.30pm