School Reunion

Last Saturday night was my 10 Year High School Reunion! I have kept in close contact with a handful of school mates, otherwise the closest contact is bumping into them on the streets are accepting their friend requests on Facebook. I found that everybody looked different, but when I stooped to my Year 12 height they didn’t actually look that different. I had probably changed as much as anyone, having grown taller and wider and sporting a faux beard. Some other people had changed significantly and some hadn’t changed at all. It was great to catch up with some people who I hadn’t had contact with for a while, like Jayne, Bex, Amanda, Illy (or Alexander now) Gav, Cory, James, Katharina, and Blair. It was also great watching the old video footage they had going and to see all the old school pictures. I really liked school and there were lots of chances to reminisce during the night about “the good old days”. It was a good night but I don’t think I will mind waiting 10 years for the next one.

Lara’s Visit

A few weeks back my little sister Lara came down from Queensland for a visit. It was great having here down and being able to show her around Melbourne. She also got to come over for the weekly family meal at Daisy St where it was really nice seeing her with the rest of my family.




Saturday we went into the city and Lara and Tegan got to do some cool stop animation at ACMI. Then Lara was really excited because we got to sit in Fed Square and watch the AFL Grand Final which she loved! (in Borat voice)…NOT.



Sunday we caught up with James and his family to go to the Show where the highlight was clearly the pig racing. We then all headed over to Northcote to go bowling with Campbell’s family as well.



Hopefully Lara and mum will be coming down in December for another visit. Plus I just heard that Lara has won yet another academic award at school – it is so great to see that despite all the instability and insanity at her home she is still managing to succeed. I am really proud of her!

Citizenship Test

So I saw that a new Citizenship Test was introduced and I figured I would read through the guide they provide to help people study for the test. I was so alarmed at what I read that I wrote a letter to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship:

I am an Indigenous Australian and I thought I would read the booklet "Becoming an Australian citizen" to see what information it was providing about Indigenous people.

I find the following passage disconcerting:

"On some mission stations and reserves, settled communities began to emerge. This worried the governments for a growing proportion of the people on the reserves were mixed blood. Though full-blood Aboriginal people were disappearing fast, it looked as if there would be an ongoing separate group of Aboriginal people."

I do not understand what this passage is trying to say and neither did my colleagues. It seems to imply that "mixed blood" people are separate from other Aboriginal people and that this group is a group that causes worry. I am concerned that if myself and other Indigenous colleagues don't understand this passage, what chance do potential new citizens have and what message does it leave them about Indigenous people with a mixed cultural background?

As yet I haven't had a reply, but I will post whatever they reply when it comes.