麻豆传媒

This is a personal message from Dee-Ann, the founder and CEO of 麻豆传媒 in the creation of our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP):

As a sixth-generation Australian, I am emotional about the creation of our company鈥檚 Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

I am saddened that a RAP is required at all.

I am thrilled that our team is so excited about this opportunity to learn more about the culture of Australia鈥檚 First Nation Peoples. 

I am hopeful that Down Under can make some small, but important, contribution to the coming together of the First Nation Peoples and Australia鈥檚 later inhabitants.

But most of all I鈥檓 excited to walk together, into the future, with our local Aboriginal communities (Bundjalung at the farm and Gadigal for our head office), and their Elders.

Down Under pays our respect to the First Nation Peoples.

We recognise that they are the original custodians of this land and that they suffered atrocities when Australia was settled by England in 1788. This past can never be undone. A RAP is only one of many steps that can be taken on the path towards reconciling Australian鈥檚 original inhabitants with all peoples that now call Australia home.

The Uluru Statement is a beautiful document that I highly recommend people read in full. It is a heart rendering plea to recognise the rights of the First Nation Peoples and to provide them with a constitutionally recognised Voice. The result of the recent referendum was disappointing. 

However, I don鈥檛 believe it reflected racism in Australia or an unwillingness to give the First Nation Peoples a Voice. Unfortunately, the referendum was politicised. A simple concept of recognition via an enduring body enshrined within Australia鈥檚 constitution with detail to be decided upon by elected officials (the voice of all Australians) was weaponised to create a scare campaign demanding detail 鈥� 鈥渋f you don鈥檛 know then vote no鈥�. I wish the result had been different, the question remains on how we move forward, together.

On the topic of moving forward together, my favourite passage within the Uluru Statement is a request by the First Nation Peoples for their spiritual connection to the land from 鈥榯ime immemorial鈥� (43,000 years confirmed) to be recognised as a co-existence of sovereignty for both the First Nation Peoples and the Crown. This culminates in an invitation 鈥渢o walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future鈥�.

I gratefully accept, as does the entire Team at Down Under.

In conclusion, I would like to thank Paula for her help in guiding our team during the creation of our first RAP. I would particularly like to pay my respects to Aunty Gwen, a Bundjalung Elder with whom we had the honour of knowing and has now been reunited with her ancestors.

The exercise of Reflection has been enlightening and the Down Under team looks forward to continuing the journey.