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 I am writing to confirm my support for The Royal Society of Victoria’s plans for an Environmental Expedition to be organised to take place during the 150th anniversary of the 1860 first crossing of the continent by explorers, Burke and Wills. I have met with the RSV 150th Anniversary Advisory Committee in Melbourne and they have briefed me on their plans to seek the expertise, leadership and assistance of as many indigenous groups as possible for this Expedition including, Indigenous Rangers working in the relevant geographical regions and on the relevant environmental issues; also Indigenous Land Management Facilitators and NAILSMA.
The Director of this Expedition Dr. Jonathan King has also written to me providing a full brief of the RSV’s plans and I am confident this visionary project can be carried out successfully. Given Dr. King’s live events track record this Expedition should become a high media profile Expedition which should promote and address relevant National Priority Areas and relevant Targets for the federal government’s Caring for our Country program which is part of both the Department of the Environment, Arts and Heritage (Minister, Hon. Peter Garrett) and also the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Minister, Tony Burke).
I understand the RSV is seeking funding from Caring for our Country for this project in three stages and I support their careful stage by stage approach especially as Stage One will enable them to meet and interview Indigenous people who will be able to provide all the necessary expertise and advice – before they set off on the Environmental Expedition. I wish them well, stand by my offer to help.
Professor Mick Dodson AO
Centre for Indigenous Studies, ANU |