What is reconciliation

How can the Bass Coast councillors, get it so wrong in moving the motion, to rename the unfinished Cowes Cultural Centre by suggesting only four aboriginal names? 

As a non-indigenous Australian, the four names proposed by the Bunnarong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation to council have no meaning to me. 

Council also stated that the name should be part of the national reconciliation which I fully support.

The naming of public buildings acknowledges and recognises the deep cultural history and connection of the place in which we live (both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous), the council stated, and should be part of the national reconciliation.

It would have been prudent of councillors Rooks and  Laing to consult the Dictionary, Cambridge states “the process of making two opposite beliefs, ideas, or situations agree.”

The aim of Reconciliation Australia is stated as the creation of partnership with the government, business and both Indigenous and non-indigenous organisation to achieve social and economic equity for Indigenous Australians and to strengthen reconciliation by acknowledging the past while looking toward a shared future.

The opening paragraph from Reconciliation Australia.

What is reconciliation?
At its heart, reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians.

Definition: What is reconciliation?
In its broadest sense ‘reconciliation’ means ‘coming together’. The dictionary defines ‘reconciliation’ as a situation in which two people, or groups of people, become friendly again after they have argued.

In Australia, ‘reconciliation’ refers to bringing together Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal Australians.

Reconciliation is not something that one side decides to ‘do’ – it is a process, at the end of which there may be reconciliation, but this can never be guaranteed.

Reconciliation has elements of truth, justice, forgiveness, healing, reparation, and love.

Supporting reconciliation means working to overcome the division (often called “the gap”) and inequality between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
Differences are biggest in health, income, living standards and life expectancy, but also prejudice and racism.

My preference for the new centre is “Millowl Cultural Centre”, Millowl being aboriginal for Phillip Island.

I urge all ratepayers and residents to make their comments known in regarding the name for the new centre by going to https://engage.basscoast.vic.gov.au/firstnationsnaming 
Reference 
https://d2n3eh1td3vwdm.cloudfront.net/general-downloads/Sustainable-Environment/2071-Phillip-Island-Wildlife-Plan.pdf
https://d2n3eh1td3vwdm.cloudfront.net/general-downloads/Sustainable-Environment/2071-Phillip-Island-Wildlife-Plan-Summary.pdf

John Trigt, Surf Beach