​SCAC Reconciliation Action Planning group

Since September 2020 about a dozen members of SCAC met together with a common goal of learning, listening and getting to know the tradition custodians of the land on which our Church stands. The lands of the Wurundjeri -Woi-Woirong people. The group have been encouraged by the presence and advise of an indigenous Taungerong woman, Debra Morris, to encourage and inform us.

​
​The group meets monthly, 2nd Thursday at 3.00-4.30 p.m. at the church. 199 Bayswater Rd; Bayswater North.
​

​In July 2020 our vicar, Rev. Bruce Bickerdike in his monthly pastoral letter raised a challenge to our church as to whether we might be ready to work towards a reconciliation action plan. Along with his family, Bruce had spent many years living amongst first nations peoples in both the Northern Territory (as a teacher) and also in Northern South Australia, as a pastor, amongst the Pidjenjaara people.

Since September 2020 the group has met on a monthly basis-both in person and virtually during lockdown days. Our primary commitment has been to learn about the history and current situation of the local indigenous communities. In this we have been helped by visiting the Coranderrk station (Healesville) and the Coranderrk permanent display at the Yarra Valley museum in Lilydale. Several have joined the monthly Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering lunches at their invitation. Sadly this was only possible for the few months when lockdown restrictions didn’t prohibit the lunches.

After one such luncheon early in 2021 three representatives from the Victorian First Nations Assembly came to SCAC to share about their desire to see a treaty formulated and agreed upon whereby a commitment to truth telling and justice will be agreed with the Victorian Government and the First Nations Assembly. They commented on how positively significant they found the display of indigenous flags, paintings and a plaque acknowledging country in a church building.

Plaque displayed in church building.

​The group spent time formulating a vision and mission statement which we presented to the parish council by way of encouraging wider ownership of these endeavours. This statement was accepted by the Parish council. We also worked with the Parish council in the wording of the plaque recognizing country. This plaque was formally unveiled by Archbishop Philip Freier on 26th June, 2022. 

Plans for 2022: to meet indigenous pastors in the Melbourne area; to visit significant sites which commemorate indigenous history. E.g. The Holocaust museum.