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‘Boundary Street – history, memory, community’

On the anniversary of the Voice Referendum on 14 October, ANTaR Queensland, the Brisbane City Council and Community Plus held a gathering at Jagera Hall, South Brisbane. Thank you to all the approximately 100 people who joined us in an important act of listening, learning and reflecting.

Aunty Dawn Daylight welcomed us with her song, ‘Always was, always will be’ and our panelists Aunty Flo Watson (AO), Aunty Sandra King (AO), Michelle Watson (AO) and Dr Ray Kerkove shared moving stories. Lucy Davis facilitated the morning with heart and humour. Powerful contributions were made by Nuri Theresa Jackey-Williams, Aunty Debby Sandy, Aunty Pat Williams and others. These recollections, memories and family accounts explored something of the history and function of Boundary Streets across Brisbane and beyond and the restrictions and violence faced by Aboriginal people. They also made clear the enduring strength of communities who resisted, survived and maintained culture despite these injustices. Thank you to everyone who shared stories, whether from the panel or from the audience.

There are many other stories that are part of the lives of First Nations people who have lived in or around Brisbane and shaped it that could not be shared in one gathering. All are important. We hope that we can help create other opportunities like this to listen, learn and reflect.

A link to Dr Kerkhove’s power points will be available for a limited time only (due to copyright requirements attached to some of the images).
 Boundary Street – Ray Kerkhove.pdf

Truth-telling and truth listening

Travis Lovett, a Kerrupmara Gunditjmara and Boandik man, explores the importance and meaning of truth-telling and truth listening in an insightful, practical and powerful address in the 2026 David Hunter Memorial Lecture (22:10:26).

Travis Lovett was Deputy Chair of Australia’s first formal truth-telling inquiry, the Yoorook Justice Commission. He walked 905 kilometres from Melbourne to Parliament House in Canberra to call on the Federal Government to commit to a national truth-telling process.

Reconciliation Australia’s song this year is Shane Howard and Goanna’s iconic Solid Rock

For National Reconciliation Week 2025, Reconciliation Australia called on choirs across the country to raise their Voices for Reconciliation once again. The song this year was Shane Howard and Goanna’s iconic Solid Rock, and the response was incredible. Here is just a few of the choirs we heard from. Reconciliation Australia thanks Shane Howard, Goanna Arts and Mushroom Music Publishing for their support of Voices for Reconciliation.

See a video of a collection of choirs HERE

Also a very good version by SING ON THE BALAN HERE

Check out the many amazing films and documentaries of SBS OnDemand

Supporting Justice and Solidarity – Your Continued Support Matters

At ANTaR QLD, we believe that standing with First Peoples in their pursuit of justice and equality does not only mean working to change institutional policies and practices. It’s also about responding together to the suffering that often results from injustice and inequality. True relationship means not only reaching out and offering support, but also celebrating the connections we share.

Given the current challenges posed by the cost of living, it is more important than ever to come together in solidarity and support one another.

In this spirit, ANTaR QLD has been offering direct support and collaborating with other organisations to make a broader impact. We’ve been actively reaching out to community members, linking with other organisations, supporting Sorry Business, preparing meals, assisting with food drops, distributing fresh food, and helping distribute over 120 Christmas hampers with MOB 23.

We also continue to work to support institutional change, for example, around youth incarceration and keeping young people out of the prison system, and to increase knowledge and understanding of First Nations peoples’ culture, history and contemporary circumstances through holding or supporting events, the Sea of Hands, and engaging with the school system.

Your support for ANTaR QLD will enable us to continue this work. Since we are now a registered charity any donation over $2 that you give is tax-deductible.

Donating and or updating your membership is now very easy. Simply click on Support Our Work and update membership and / or donate.