The place where we will meet for our Sydney conference – our coming together – is Bidjigal land, water, and sky. Current evidence is that Aboriginal people have been living around Sydney Harbour for about 20,000 years, though the population was thin and sporadic up until about 5,000 years ago.

One of the two oldest sites around current Sydney is a hearth from about 7,800 years before present at the old Prince Henry Hospital site. We truly will be standing on ancient land as many generations have done before us.

Aunty Barbara, a Bidjigal, Gweagal and Wandi Wandi elder, who was taken away from her family when she was just eight years old, grew up on a nearby Mission. She knows this place deeply and can tell stories from the mid-20th century about fishing and swimming around here, and the people and places that she remembers. Here’s one she recorded for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Aunty Barbara protects the living too as an experienced Aged Care Co-ordinator, and as an Aboriginal health worker who has worked tirelessly in raising community awareness around cancer. She also nurtures and educates all the community, from whatever cultural background, to listen, to understand and to respect.

We are very grateful to her and to the Bidjigal people for making us welcome.