South Australian Aboriginal Affairs Minister, SA Attorney-General and Industrial Relations and Public Sector Minister, Kyam Maher, has visited RAAF Base Edinburgh to see its new Keeping Place.
Unable to attend the Keeping Place’s opening during NAIDOC Week 2024, the Minister expressed a particular desire to visit the base and see the new initiative.
During the visit on September 13, Mr Maher joined with Defence Indigenous staff and students from Trinity College on a guided tour of the Keeping Place by Kaurna man and former RAAF Edinburgh Indigenous Liaison Officer Flight Lieutenant Steve Warrior.
Prior to entering the Keeping Place, Flight Lieutenant Warrior conducted a smoking ceremony to cleanse attendees.
“The visit was important to share initiatives RAAF Edinburgh have implemented with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures at the forefront,” Flight Lieutenant Warrior said.
Mr Maher joined with others in walking through the six key areas of the Keeping Place, including the welcome area, which displays information about the space and includes a scarred tree; education space; yarning circle; Indigenous war memorial; and two ceremonial spaces, one for men’s business and another for women’s business.
‘Learning about Aboriginal culture is not just about preserving the past, but also creating a more respectful, inclusive and informed future.’
At the Keeping Place war memorial, Mr Maher laid a wreath in honour of all the Indigenous Australians who have served for Australia and, in particular, those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Chair of Aboriginal Veterans South Australia Frank Lampard recited the Ode.
Flight Lieutenant Warrior showed Mr Maher the RAAF Edinburgh Indigenous weapons display and the George Tongerie display.
The Minister spoke to the students about the remarkable understanding Australia’s First Peoples had of aerodynamics and the use of the air domain in designing and using traditional weapons such as the boomerang.
“Learning about Aboriginal culture is not just about preserving the past, but also creating a more respectful, inclusive and informed future,” Flight Lieutenant Warrior said.
Developed through major collaboration with Kaurna custodians, the Keeping Place is designed to be the central point on base as a meeting place for Defence and the broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to come together for ceremony, education, kinship and heritage.
