International Bulletin - December 1998
PPSEAWA Australia Observes 70th Anniversary
This was a day of information, inspiration and recreation, attended by representative of all age groups from schoolgirls to retirees. The theme was selected because 1998 is the United Nations "Year of the Ocean".
After a welcome by Mary Cabrera, President PPSEAWA Australia, Inc, Vice-president Kaylin Simpson Lee brought us some reflections on the part the ocean played in the history of our organisation. It started 70 years ago in Hawaii, the date having to be according to date of arrival of ships bringing the delegates. Now membership extends to 19 countries around the great Pacific Ocean.
The best means of tying bonds of friendship, we were told, is by attending international conferences. Even in these days of advanced Information Technology, there is a need to actually meet. Meeting together has an unique role in enabling us to see ourselves in the context of others. Light is made up of all the colours of the rainbow. Kaylin concluded by quoting a PNG Poet, John Kasiapwalovia, speaking at the Festival of Pacific Arts in the Cook Islands. "The waves wash the beach clean with every wave but the foot prints are not entirely washed away, the ocean keeps them."
Official Opening: The Hon Helen Sham Ho. MLC congratulated the keynote speaker on her work for Aboriginal Reconciliation and also congratulated PPSEAWA on its 70 years of work. Australia is an island, therefore the ocean has an important role. Aborigines came across the ocean 40,000 years ago, others 200 years ago. The women migrants were responsible for looking after the families, but were often isolated by language and cultural barriers. We should acknowledge their role.
Keynote Speaker: Linda Burneg Chairperson NSW Reconciliation Committee: Linda began with a "Welcome to our country" from the Eora People, the traditional owners, to both the young people and the senior people, the vessels of knowledge and wisdom. She also acknowledged the work of PPSEAWA at the UN.
The theme is very challenging when considered from a political point of view: Aboriginal creation stories are about land and water, including the sea. We fail to recognise that we have the oldest continual culture on earth here, which we do not treasure but treat with fear, disregard and racist attitudes. You could compare the feeling for land to the feeling for your mother: how could you watch her being polluted, mined and attacked? Politicians must realise that as long as there are indigenous people, land [which includes water] will be an agenda item. The way land has been taken from them is unique: no war, no treaty, no compensation. The Terra Nullium concept has been overturned and Mabo and Wik are of vital importance.
There are two versions of history: one from the shore, the other from the ships. There are also two maps: one showing 8 states, the other showing 300 nation states: both are valid. And there are the 100,000 children of the stolen generation we must remember. In the end, it is up to individuals to decide what sort of country we want, do we want it split or harmonious? We must have reconciliation not division for the next 200 years. Change must come from the people, not the politicians.
The Ocean's Role in our well being: Dr Matthew England. Senior Research Fellow. Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies. UNSW. Dr England showed slides of the beauties of the shore line and of sea mammals and birds, before showing pictures of pollution: of oil, sewerage, dumping at sea pesticides and storm water outfalls. Then he showed graphs of over-fishing and the effects of temperature rises, greenhouse gasses and ocean currents. Also he showed the huge changes since the Industrial Revolution in pollution and climate. We have many problems to worry about: relocation of people living on atolls: loss of fish species; pollution of our water. Education is one of the keys once problems are know, hopefully people will realise their impact on their own lives, if only by the awful state of and off some of our popular beaches.
The effect of water and oceans on people: The Rev Alison Todd. MBE. Missionary in Health Administration with the Presbyterian Church in Vanuatu. Alison said that she had always loved the sea. Perhaps having a family background of master mariners had something to do with it and receiving postcards from all over the world, but that career was not open to girls. She became a triple certificated nurse and trained as a Presbyterian deaconess. She went out to Vanuatu, or New Hebrides, as it was know then, as a nurse. Later on she became a Uniting Church Minister in NSW.
In her first month on her island there was a volcanic eruption so she had to evacuate the islanders and saw just what the sea can be like when turbulent. Tides went up and down, not in and out and the sea was not safe for swimming though very popular for fishing when it was calm. The ocean was used for everything: bathing, washing, cooking, food, disposal of medical dressings as well as being a home to whales turtles, sharks as well as being the only means of travel and transport. In fact the Pacific Ocean controlled our lives: it had many moods and was a source of spiritual inspiration.
Water has great significance in religious life: Ganges to Hindis; baptism to Christians, Jesus teaching by the sea of Galilee. Water has extreme power and we need it daily to stay alive.
My Approach: Natash Redenno. International Grammar School, Sydney: Oceans held great mysteries in early civilisations: they were a commodity and a resource. Now oceans are taken for granted; to my friends they are an integral part of their lifestyle and therefore recreational use. We are not taught about the reality of pollution only snatches on TV and magazine photos. My generations is too relaxed about the ocean: We inherit it as it is and it is our duty to leave it better than we found it.
Last Modified: November 29, 2002