Local Government Aboriginal Network Aboriginal Councillor of the Year Barry Bird with Linda Burney.

Unionist wins Indigenous Councillor of the Year award

By Charline Emzin-Boyd

Federation member Barry Bird has been named Aboriginal Councillor of the Year at the 17th Annual Local Government Aboriginal Network Conference.

Mr Bird, who joined Federation's Trainee Teachers Association in 1972, is a local government Councillor for Shellharbour.

Describing himself as an "active unionist", he said he felt humbled by not only being nominated for the award, but also then receiving the prestigious award.

The Annual Local Government Aboriginal Network Conference was hosted by Moree Plains Shire Council during the first week of the school holidays.

The network was established to address indigenous issues at the local government level and to provide a forum for sharing ideas on best practice in the delivery of services to Aboriginal Communities. More than 130 people attended, from their individual organisations.

The theme of this year's LGAN Conference was Youth and many speakers addressed conference delegates on such issues as education, law and order, Aboriginal employment strategies, family violence, and Aboriginal heritage.

Among the many guest speakers were Senator Aden Ridgeway, Canterbury MP (and also the first Aboriginal elected to State Parliament in NSW) Linda Burney, Department of Education and Training Aboriginal Programs Unit manager Lynne Riley-Mundine, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission President John Von Doussa, and ALP National President-elect Warren Mundine.

The conference began with a tour of historical Mission sites led by several elders who also told us their stories. Respected local Kamiloroi elders Uncle Lou Swan, Aunty Gwen Dennison and other elders participated in the conference after welcoming us to their Traditional Lands.

Charline Emzin-Boyd is the Aboriginal Education Coordinator.

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