I acknowledge all Nations, Clans and Traditional Owners, all our ancestors, our elders past, present and emerging. I give immense gratitude to the Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrrung Nation for blessing me with their beautiful country where I have worked and lived for over 50 years.
I am a proud Gunditjmara and Bundjalung woman. I honour the stolen generation survivors , my dear mum Myrtle Roach / Austin and my Uncle Archie Roach — our beloved songman.
I was the Interim Chair of the Elders’ Voice and Co-Chair of the Yurpa Cultural Governance Committee. I am staunch and raised grassroots in Collingwood / and Ole Fitzroy. Cultural Lore and Cultural Respect must be at the forefront of any Treaty negotiations. I will continue to advocate, negotiate and fight hard for the inherent rights of us all.
Self determination means we decide how to represent ourselves and I want to make sure that there are more nations at the table. I make the commitment to get the job done. I am grateful to be trusted once again to represent Melbourne Metropolitan (Narrm).
Member Updates
March 2025 — Meeting of Assembly at Traralgon
I am a general seat holder representing Melbourne Metropolitan Region. I have been attending Assembly meetings to support the Treaty journey ensuring the community voices are being heard and represented in all activities/ meetings of the Assembly.
The key messages I have been hearing from the community is that there needs to be a greater investment in mental health, wellbeing and healing for our people. The community has been going through a lot of sorry business and there is not enough support services available.
I have also heard from youth that there is no significant youth organisation in the metro region that provides wrap around support services. Wait lists for mental health and wellbeing services are long and are not fit for purpose to support Aboriginal youth and I will provide a greater advocacy in this area to ensure the needs of our community our met.
I have also been hearing of local governments failing in supporting our local communities and Traditional Owner voices are not being heard in all areas of local government work. This is another area that I will seek to see a real change under treaty negotiations upcoming.
I make myself available at all times to community members in my region and promote all assembly activities on my three social pages including my LinkedIn profile.
I attended an International Women’s Day Rally in March and was a keynote speaker on treaty/ the fight of Aboriginal women and the resistance and resilience of our matriarchs. The rally was run by Trades Hall and attended by staunch unionists. I actively engage with this sector to ensure solidarity for the Assembly.
Over the coming months I will actively participate and engage in all committee meetings of the Assembly to ensure I am fully informed. I will support the other members of the Assembly in the work being lead from other members. I will make myself available to attend engagement activities or provide strategic advice where necessary.
The next three to six months will be busy and I look forward to the journey ahead keeping my community at the heart of every conversation. As a strong leader and contributor to the business of Treaty I will fight for what we deserve and seek as a community.
Table of Attendance
January 2025 — Meeting of Assembly at Naarm
Member update not submitted due to a leave of absence from Assembly duties.
November 2024 — Meeting of Assembly at Shepparton
Member update not submitted.
September 2024 — Meeting of Assembly at Swan Hill
Member update not submitted.
June 2024 — Meeting of Assembly at Portland
Member update not submitted.
March 2024 — Meeting of Assembly at Lakes Entrance
As a Traditional Owner of the Eastern Maar Nation, I proudly represent the Melbourne Metropolitan Region with a diverse and welcoming home for many of our people from many nations. I acknowledge my other bloodline of the Bundjalung people, NSW. I respectfully acknowledge Wurundjeri for blessing me with their beautiful country where I live and work.
I have been engaging one of ones with community to discuss the next steps on the Treaty journey including what Treaty negotiations are and how I best can represent their aspirations in the process. I’ve spent time speaking with Elders and youth including members of my own family. I’ve engaged with community in the Hume Region where I live. I spend a lot of time engaging with the non-Aboriginal and multicultural community -so they can journey with us.
I’ve heard that community want be engaged and want to be heard. I’ve promoted the upcoming Statewide gathering which will be a pivotal moment for community to speak their truths and have a say on what matters to them.
My key messages to community-I will listen, acknowledge and respect all views and ensure that I advocate and represent. I am always available to connect with community to share my views, provide information and follow up on any questions. I’m just a phone call away if anyone would like to just yarn. My contact details are on the Assembly website.
I am always welcoming of invites to speaking engagements from small to large events.
I hope to see you all at Treaty yarning events round town over the coming months-come say hi and don’t forget the Statewide Gathering from 5th-7th April 2024 in South Geelong. Its sure to be a celebration of our cultural strength and unity. Look out for each other and protect the past- our Elders and protect the future- our kids.
