This extra bulletin focusses on our 2025 David Hunter Memorial Lecture.
Read on to find out more, as well as other events including the Canberra Writers Festival events featuring First Nations perspectives.
2025 David Hunter Memorial Lecture: Time for Truth-telling
Join us for the 2025 David Hunter Memorial Lecture: Time for Truth-telling. Explore the transformative practice of truth-listening, which is an essential part of truth-telling, reconciliation, and justice in Australia.
When: Thursday 23 October, 6pm for 6.30pm (refreshments for in person attendees from 6pm, lecture to start at 6.30pm)
Where: Durie Room, St Mark’s National Theological College, 15 Blackall St, Barton. The lecture will also be streamed online.
Speaking on the theme of Truth Telling are:
- Keynote speaker: Blake Cansdale, ANTAR’s National Director
- With: Prof Chris Cunneen and Dr James Beaufils from the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, University of Technology Sydney.
Register now: https://bit.ly/4naj7po (required for either in person or online attendance).
For more information, see: DHML 2025: Time for Truth Telling – ANTaR ACT.
ANTaR ACT Organising Group
The next meeting of the ANTaR ACT organising group will be at 6pm on Monday 13 October (in person – Friends Meeting House, corner of Bent and Condamine Streets, Turner). If you would like to join us and be involved in our ongoing advocacy and actions, please RSVP to: info@antaract.org.au.
Events coming up
TUCKA – Kevin Gilbert talks up Sovereignty
Tuesday 30 September, 6.30pm, The Food Co-op, 3 Kingsley St, Acton
Film screening followed by Q&A with Ellie Gilbert, dinner by donation. All welcome.
ACT Community Sector NAIDOC Event – 11th Anniversary
Wednesday 1 October, 10am-2pm, 8 Bradley Street, Woden Town Square, Phillip
Join us for the 11th Anniversary of the ACT Community Sector NAIDOC Event! Since its inception in 2015, this celebration has become a cherished tradition, growing year by year in size, spirit, and significance. We hold this event later in the year to take advantage of Canberra’s milder weather, ensuring a more comfortable and enjoyable experience for everyone.
What to expect
- Welcome to country & smoking ceremony: Open the event with a welcome to country and smoking ceremony.
- Live performances: Enjoy entertainment from talented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
- Children’s activities: Participate in free Indigenous art workshops and other fun school holiday activities.
- Market stalls: Discover unique arts and crafts from local Aboriginal businesses. Come and visit us at the ANTaR ACT stall!
- Yarning circle: Engage with inspiring stories from prominent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members.
- Complimentary food & drinks: Savor free refreshments throughout the day.
For more information: https://actcoss.org.au/news-and-events/events-and-training/event/?reset=1&id=192
The Russell Taylor Oration 2025
Thursday 9 October, 12noon – 2pm, live-streamed
The Russell Taylor Oration is an annual event that celebrates the achievements and contributions of prominent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the public service and aims to inspire the next generation of First Nations talent in the public sector.
Guest speaker for 2025: Terry Garwood, Deputy Secretary, First Peoples – State Relations and Special Adviser, Self-Determination, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Victoria
For more information, see: https://aiatsis.gov.au/whats-new/events/russell-taylor-oration-2025.
LOCAL Politics in the Pub
Monday 20 October, 5.30-7.30pm, Irish Club, 6 Parkinson St, Weston
Speakers: ACT Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Suzanne Orr, and Natalie Brown from Our Booris, Our Way. Organised by Active Democracy Bean.
Canberra Writers Festival
For full program, see: https://www.canberrawritersfestival.com.au/.
Events featuring a First Nations perspective include:
- Mervyn Bishop in Black, White and Colour
Friday 24 October, 6pm, Liangis Theatre, National Portrait Gallery
The image of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam pouring earth into Vincent Lingiari’s hands is seared into the national consciousness. But few know the story of the man behind the lens: Mervyn Bishop, Australia’s first Indigenous professional newspaper and government photographer. Now his story is brought to amazing life in Black, White + Colour, the illustrated biography by Tim Dobbyn. Join Mervyn and Tim, in conversation with Professor Brenda L. Croft, ANU Professor of Indigenous Art History and Curatorship, to hear how Mervyn’s life and work helped Australians more clearly see themselves.
Bookings and more information: https://tickets.canberrawritersfestival.com.au/Events/Mervyn-Bishop-in-Black-White-and-Colour. - Working with First Nations’ Stories and Story Owners with Craig Cormick and Darren Rix
Sunday 26 October, 10am, Marie Reay Teaching Centre, Australian National University
Craig Cormick is an award-winning author, science communicator and long-time supporter of the Canberra and broader writing community across Australia. Darren Rix is an author, musician and cultural leader and guide, a Gunditjmara-GunaiKurnai man with Ngarigo bloodlines. Together they will introduce you to some of the great cultural guides that exist for writers and researchers, and highlight principles using different types of consultations and engagements they undertook for Warra Warra Wai as case study examples.
Bookings and more information: https://tickets.canberrawritersfestival.com.au/Events/Working-with-First-Nations-Stories-and-Story-Owners-with-Craig-Cormick-and-Darren-Rix. - Roach and Hunter
Sunday 26 October, 3pm Patrick White Lawns, National Library of Australia
An event to celebrate the release of an incredible anthology Rivers Flow and honour the profound music, culture and leadership legacy of Archie Roach – a Gunditjmara, Kirrae Whurrong/Djab Wurrung and Bundjalung man – and Ruby Hunter – a Ngarrindjeri, Kokatha and Pitjantjatjara woman. First Nations writers that have contributed to this wonderful work will pay tribute to these giants of songs and storytelling, and share personal reflections, words and poems.
Bookings and more information: https://tickets.canberrawritersfestival.com.au/Events/Roach-and-Hunter.
ANTaR ACT acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which Canberra is situated, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region. We also acknowledge other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may visit this area.