This Sunday, there will be a special sitting of the SA parliament to vote on the First Nations Voice to SA Parliament. A special public event to acknowledge this will be held on the steps of parliament house at 11am that day. Our local Blackwood Reconciliation Group has been active in promoting both the Federal First Nations Voice to Parliament as well as the First Nations Voice to SA Parliament.

In light of Blackwood Uniting Church’s long history of support for indigenous causes, it would be wonderful if as many people as possible from BUC attended this historic event. Not that you require my permission, but if you did, you most certainly have my permission and my encouragement to give Sunday worship a miss and to attend, instead, this event in support of our indigenous brothers and sisters. The 9.15am and 11.00am services at BUC will still be happening this Sunday, but if they are very sparsely attended, due to people being at parliament house, no-one will be happier than me.

The state government has put on free public transport for the day.

I have appended relevant links below for your reference.

Links:

Parliament House Special Event

https://www.dpc.sa.gov.au/news/first-nations-voice-to-parliament-special-event

First Nations Voice to South Australia’s Parliament

https://www.agd.sa.gov.au/aboriginal-affairs-and-reconciliation/first-nations-voice-to-the-south-australian-parliament

First Nations Voice to South Australia’s Parliament

Brief YouTube clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqKP_qc9Dbg

 Proposed model for First Nations Voice to the South Australian Parliament

https://www.agd.sa.gov.au/aboriginal-affairs-and-reconciliation/first-nations-voice-to-the-south-australian-parliament/first-nations-voice-model/Proposed-model-FNV-infographic.pdf

You may also purchase an “I’m Voting YES” badge from the church office for $2 a badge.

 Michael Dowling, Minister