By Derek Schlennstedt
Draped in traditional possum skin shawls and cloaks, Wurundjeri elders Alice Kolasa, Alan Wandin, Jacqui Wandin, Colin Hunter, Roy Jones and Gail Smith addressed an influential bill in the Victorian Parliament on 22 June.
Although Alice made history being the first Wurundjeri person to speak at parliament, that wasn’t the only history being made, and in an Australian first, the ‘Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Bill,’ is the first legislation ever to go before the Victorian Parliament with a dual Indigenous language title.
The bill identifies the Yarra River and the many hundreds of parcels of public land it flows through as one living, integrated natural entity for protection and improvement.
That protection has been enshrined in the draft legislation which is co-titled and partly written in Woi-wurrung – assuring Traditional Owners formal custodianship of their land and a permanent voice in the governance and protection of the Yarra River.
The legislation creates an independent body called the Birrarung Council, two members of which must be nominated from the Wurundjeri Tribe Land and Compensation Cultural Heritage Council.
The Birrung Council will be tasked with developing a strategic plan for the Yarra River and report annually on that plan to planning minister Richard Wynne.
In parliament, Wurundjeri Elder Alan Wandin from Healesville spoke of the obligation to protect Birrarung – the Yarra River – and maintain it for ‘generations to come.’
“Since our beginning, it has been known that we have an obligation to keep the Birrarung alive and healthy for all generations to come,” he said.
Jacqui Wandin, daughter of Alan was also in attendance, placing ochre and gumtree she plucked from a tree in Coranderrk onto the parliamentary table.
Ms Wandin spoke to the Mail about the historical importance of the event.
“It was very special for us . . . It was a moment where we were left a bit speechless,” she said.
“We were just thinking of the old people, my great-grandfather, Robert Wandin.”
We think about them and the fight that they put up … they were the first people in Australia to fight for the land rights.”
“What I’m proud of is we are still trying to walk in the footsteps of our elders and trying to make it right.”
“I can’t explain the feeling, but it’s very overwhelming and emotional.”
