School supporters have issued the following urgent appeal for help on the picketline at Ballerrt Mooroop College:
"Bulldozers are on site. We don't want the bulldozer to destroy our Ceremonial Ground, Gathering Place and Spirit Tree. So come down and support and help us to Stop this from Happening. Re-post this to everyone that you know please. The more help and support that we get is much appreciated."
The picket's location is 208 Hilton Street, Glenroy, Victoria, Map Reference: Melway 16 H1, Public Transport:: Train - Jacana Station on Cragieburn line. Buses - 513 from Coburg, Eltham, Heidelberg
The following is an extended callout from the campaign website
The last standing Aboriginal School in Melbourne (Wurundjeri Country)!
Construction has already started with moves under way to bulldoze and desecrate culturally significant parts of Ballerrt Mooroop College (BMC) the LAST STANDING Aboriginal school in Metropolitan Melbourne. - Metropolitan area (Wurundjeri Country).
Not only does this site on Hilton St. Glenroy, Wurundjeri Country, provide educational facilities that have been developed over decades in close consultation with local indigenous communities; it has significant heritage value and is essential for the preservation of spiritual and aboriginal history for Indigenous and Non Indigenous Peoples in Melbourne for years to come. Relocation is therefore not an option that can be considered.
Lack of transparency and equity in planning and "consultation" process: BMC was not properly consulted throughout the process, in fact, plans were concealed from us at the beginning of the process. Whilst the BMC committee were planning to improve their current programs and further meet the needs of Victorian Indigenous educationally disengaged children and youths, the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) and the Glenroy Specialist School (GSS) were holding meetings to not only poach BMC's adjacent sporting and the community open-space reserves, but to bulldoze the school's cultural precinct and the multipurpose Gymnasium / 'Gathering Place'.
Following the protest by BMC, a mediation process between GSS and BMC was put into place and a 'compromised draft plan' was being developed between the two schools. The Victorian Government through DEECD completely undermined the mediation process and outcomes and ordered the GSS original plan to be built while BMC were waiting to discuss the issue with the department. Many local residents have advised us that they do not like the way the DEECD is seen to have set up one disadvantaged group against the other. Past, present and future of Ballerrt Mooroop College (BMC)-a Koorie Pathways school:
This Place is the only Aboriginal School on Wurundjeri Country in Greater Melbourne and is unique in that it ensures the transmission of our Ancestors culture, traditions, customs, beliefs and observances including Tanderrum and Smoking Ceremonies, dance, art and craft. This Aboriginal Place is unique in that it is the only Aboriginal Place that ensures cultural maintenance and the transmission of that culture to our children and future generations.
The Wurundjeri People have culturally blessed the site over the years, welcomed many other Traditional Owners to Country, and conducted many Tanderrum and Smoking Ceremonies within the Aboriginal Place.
The school site was established as Glenroy High School in 1954. Several Indigenous families attended the school in the 1960's onwards. The Glenroy KODE (Koorie Open Door Education) School was set up in 1995 then reverted recently to its current name of "the Koorie Pathway School".
Many Indigenous Families have contributed to the Student population over the last fifteen years. Many fine Students have gone through the School and been successful in their lives and careers. We, with collective support, want to further develop the educational and cultural space. We want to retain this land as a unique cultural education experience for Future Generations of Students. There needs to be a Residential College as well as a Day School.
Part of our plans for development include a Multifunctional Aboriginal Children's centre to cater for the younger age groups; Performing Arts and Culture, Music and Sport and other practical educational programs to underpin and reinforce a quality and diverse educational program that respects the cultural heritage of the Traditional Owners and the rights of our Students to have culturally relevant education and support. Groups like the School's Council, Broadmeadows LAECG (Local Aboriginal Educational consultative group), MAYSR (Melbourne Aboriginal Youth Sport and Recreation) and Wurundjeri have established a Task Force to support the School, Council, Staff, Students and Parents.
Education and Land go Hand in Hand - this has never been truer than now.
Our Appeal: We ask that work on the building is STOPPED IMMEDIATELY and proper consultations are put into place with all parties, including local residents, who are losing their valued open-space recreational land. Many local residents have advised us that they do not like the way the DEECD (Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development) is seen to have set up one disadvantaged group against the other.
We ask for recognition of the rights of Aboriginal people to stop the desecration of the Gathering Place, sacred Spirit Tree and the traditional Ceremonial Ground opened by a traditional land owner from the Wurundjeri Clan with acknowledgement of past and present elders to join us in keeping the land at peace.
We call for action to improve Indigenous rights in Australia.
b>How can you support our Campaign?
Arm yourselves with the facts by reading the background information in our media release as well as other sources on our website (http://ballerrtmooroop.org/).
Fax, Email, Write and call stating your opposition to the desecration of Ballerrt Mooroop College by contacting:
• Adco (Constructions) asking them immediately cease of the construction [Email: melbourne@adcoconstruct.com.au; Phone: (03) 9832 1400 Fax: (03) 9832 1444]
• The Victorian Department of Education [Email: c0989601@edumail.vic.gov.au; Phone: (03) 9488 9488; Fax: (03) 9488 9440]
• Local Federal and State MPs: Mr Kelvin Thomson, [Email: Kelvin.Thomson.MP@aph.gov.au; Fax: (02) 6277 8409) and Mr. Frank McGuire (Email: frank.mcguire at parliament.vic.gov.au, Fax: (03) 9300 3915]
• If you are an organisation or community group: please contact Gary Murray [Email: garyjohnmurray@msn.com; Mobile: 0415 683 202] to endorse our campaign to oppose the desecration of Ballerrt Mooroop College
• Sign our online Petition (http://ballerrtmooroop.org/node/77) to Martin Dixon MP-Victorian Minister of Education
• Post on Facebook and Twitter by clicking icons below
• Share the facts of this campaign online through social media, websites etc.
• Distribute our "Ballerrt Mooroop College Campaign" poster (create a poster and attach to link here) and campaign information to for example your workplace/school/university/TAFE or community centres
