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Our Guest Speaker Uncle Hewitt Whyman is wearing a shirt gifted to him by Nelson Mandela. Hewie as he likes to be called, was the first indigenous person to shake Mandela's hand when the latter visited Australia.
Rotary Club Member Bill Parker, a long time friend and fellow Vietnam Veteran, introduced Uncle Hewitt Whyman (Hewie). Bill described Hewie as a good friend for whom he has great respect. He said Hewie is a 1st Nation Elder, a Yorta Yorta man who served his country as a soldier from 1968 - 1976, has represented on many government agencies and has been an activist for Indigenous rights and reconciliation including time at the Tent Embassy in Canberra. He recently re-enlisted and holds the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2. He is now able to consult on matters relating to indigenous army recruits.
(Here is a summary of the main points of Hewie's address taken from his Australia Day Speech. With Hewie's permission I have made some small alterations to place the context of his talk in the present and not on Australia Day.)
"Yiradu - Marang - Biyambul -
(Good day all)
My name is Uncle Hewitt Whyman, I am a Yorta Yorta Nations Elder Mothers Country and Barapa Barapa Fathers Country, I'm married to an amazing Wiradjuri Woman, Aunty Dot. On the eve of Australia Day we received a joint Australia Day award being inducted into the walk of honour for our work in our community, for our work for our beloved country. We were very humbled and proud to accept the award as I hope this will help move us towards reconciliation.
As an Elder of the First Nations peoples of this land, I stand before you today with a heart full of both sorrow and hope. I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we gather on today, and I pay my respects to their ancestors—those whose spirits still walk with us, whose wisdom and guidance have sustained us for millennia.
As an Elder, I carry the stories of those who have gone before me—stories of great sorrow, but also of great strength. These stories are not easy to hear, but they are our truth, no matter how uncomfortable or painful it is essential, if we are to build a future based on healing and mutual respect. So today, I ask that we listen—not just with our ears, but with our hearts.
I'm proud of my Aboriginalty, my lived life experience of 77 years, I have lived under the aboriginal protection act growing up on a river bank on a fringe dwelling community, having my sibling Family removed, serving country in the Vietnam war, to this day I am still judged by the colour of my skin, not by the content of my character.
I am part of the stolen generation. In 1964, when I was just 17 years old, 10 of my younger siblings 9 brothers and sister were removed and taken away by the district welfare officer. Taken away from their family, their community, their culture, and country. And sent off to specifically state run centres like Cootamundra Girls Home, and Kinchela Boys Home, where they were referred to by numbers - not names. They were trained and forced to be domestic servants and farm hands.
As a 17 year old there was little I could do about it and I thought I would never see them again. Five years later a chance encounter at a football match I saw a brother that I hadn't seen for 5 Yrs. Although reunited, they and I all live with the trauma of being separated and institutionalised.
But as much as Australia Day is one of mourning for many of us, it is also a day of reflection, and a day that brings hope. We are still here. We have endured. Despite the incredible hardships and injustices we have faced, we have not been broken. We have survived, and we continue to thrive.
Our languages, our cultures, our songs, and our traditions are alive and flourishing. Our connection to this land remains unbroken, and our strength lies not just in the survival of our people, but in the resilience that flows through us, generation after generation.
RECONCILIATION
Reconciliation, as many of you know, is not simply a word. It is a process, a long and difficult journey that requires both truth and action. True reconciliation cannot be achieved by sweeping the past under the rug, nor can it be achieved by offering empty gestures. Reconciliation is not something that can be granted; it is something that must be earned, and it must be based on a foundation of justice, Truth understanding, and respect.
To truly reconcile, we must first acknowledge the full history of this land. We must understand that the First Nations peoples have been here for over 65,000 years, and our relationship with this land goes beyond ownership—it is a relationship of stewardship, of respect, and of deep spiritual connection. Our ancestors lived in harmony with this land, and our cultures were shaped by its rhythms, its cycles, its spirit, its dreaming, its songlines.
For over 200 years, this deep connection was denied, ignored, and disrespected. Our land was taken, our children were stolen, and our voices were silenced. And yet, despite this, we have never lost our connection to this land. We have never stopped speaking for the earth, the sky, the waters, and the creatures who inhabit this country with us. Our cultural practices, our ceremonies, and our traditions continue to bind us to this place in ways that no law or policy can undo.
Reconciliation cannot be a token gesture, nor a momentary acknowledgment of wrongs done. It must be a continuous process of change, of making amends, and of creating a future where all Australians—regardless of their heritage or background—can walk together as equals. True reconciliation requires action in every area of life, from health and education to justice and land rights. It requires the establishment of systems that respect our sovereignty as First Nations peoples, systems that listen to our voices, our needs, and our aspirations.
It is not enough for us to simply be included in conversations that affect us. We must be at the table, not as an afterthought, but as equal partners. We must have the power to shape the policies that will govern our lives, our communities, and our futures. We must be empowered to make decisions about our lands, our resources, and our children, and to do so in a way that is consistent with our cultural practices and values.
For reconciliation to be real, it requires a shift in the mindset of all Australians. It requires a willingness to confront difficult truths about our history and our ongoing inequalities. It requires each of us—both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians—to take responsibility for the part we play in either perpetuating or dismantling systems of injustice.
But reconciliation is also a journey of healing, and healing requires both patience and courage. To my people, I say that we must continue to be strong, continue to speak our truth, and continue to hold our cultures with pride. But we must also be open to healing and to the possibility of building new relationships—relationships that are based on trust, understanding, and shared purpose.
I am a proud Australian. I have served this country in war. I have given my blood, sweat and tears for this country. I continue to be positive despite feeling that at times we take two steps forward and then one step back.
To all Australians, I say: look around you. We share this land. We share this moment in time. And we all have a responsibility to ensure that the future we build together is one where every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to live with dignity, with hope, and with a sense of belonging.
Today, (Australia Day) as we reflect on this day, let us also reflect on the future we want to create. A future where all Australians—Indigenous and non-Indigenous—stand together in mutual respect, where the history of this land is fully understood, and where the cultures of the First Nations peoples are celebrated as an integral part of the national identity.
This work will not be easy. It will require persistence, courage, and compassion. But we are capable of this work. We are capable of healing. We are capable of creating a country that truly reflects the values of justice, respect, and equality.
So, let us take the first step today—together. Let us commit to the hard work of reconciliation. Let us honour the land, the ancestors, and the peoples who have walked this land for tens of thousands of years. And let us walk forward in hope, knowing that the journey we begin today will shape the future of this land for generations to come.
Sir Douglas Nicholls, (Dec) a Yorta Yorta most senior man said
“We want to walk with you, not alone.”
Please walk with me - today and every day.
Madang gwu
Thank you."
Hewie answered a number of questions about Acknowledgement of County, early days in Deniliquin where he encountered a young Constable Frank Fuller and pointed out the uniqueness of Indigeneous experience as a people of great antiquity who have been dispossesed of their land.
Club members gave Hewie an enthusiastic round of applause with a number standing to show their admiration for a heartfelt and important address. Club President David gave Hewie a bottle of wine in appreciation.
