Taree Talks Back

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday May 27, 2000

Kendall Hill

This week the Herald has run a series on race relations, Across the Race Divide, focusing on the North Coast town of Taree. Five community members give their verdict.

Leonie McGuire, manager, Manning District Emergency Accommodation:

``What (the series) portrayed is very real, but there's a focus here that hasn't come under the spotlight - I guess it was just a sense of `well, hang on, there are a lot of us up here who are relating in a normal way'.

``We are going to each other's 40ths, celebrating the births of babies, doing the flowers and hospital thing. The normal sort of relationships patterns that people have are very strong in the town. There are many more people that have relationships without any tensions at all.

``But I think it reflects in a very truthful and a very real way what's happening here, but there could have been more balance."

Helen Hannah, Greater Taree City Councillor and district school counsellor at Chatham High:

``I think the effects will be positive. It's very hard to talk to people in generalities, or to change people's minds on any issue, but there's nothing like somebody that you know or have seen in your community just sitting down and saying this is what happened to me. It's so moving. It's impossible not to have some sympathy when that sort of thing comes out."

Mick Tuck, the Mayor of Greater Taree City Council:

``There is some feedback from some of the people in the community of concerns in terms of either comments taken out of context or misrepresented.

``But apart from those concerns, overall it can be beneficial to the community in hearing what people feel and think and we can work on that into the future. And I think some of the personal stories and their experiences have been good to get in print. So overall I think it was worthwhile."

Pam Paulson, the secretary of the Manning Valley Australians for Reconciliation, Aboriginal Liaison Officer for council community services:

``At our reconciliation committee meeting this week I thought I would bring it up and ask their opinions about it and they said there were some really good points made. They said it was good, but others thought it was a bit negative.

``I felt that it was getting everything out in the open. It needed to be aired. Now people know what Kooris are all about and I think Kooris are really pleased with that."

Peter Smith, former police liaison officer and member of the Purfleet-Taree Lands Council:

``The whole of Taree [now] knows exactly what's going on. All we can do is work to do one thing, and that's reconcile black and white in this town."

© 2000 Sydney Morning Herald

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