Aboriginal Family Education Centres Established

Te Ao Hou, September 1967, Page 19

Aboriginal Family Education Centres Established Following the Canberra Conference, on Friday 26 May, six of us, Manu Rangi from Tiki Tiki, near Gisborne, Hiria Parata from Ruatoria near Gisborne, Hine Campbell from Whakatane, Hana Tukukino from Auckland, Pearl Allen from Ahipara in the Far North and I, flew from Canberra to Sydney, then 400 miles north to Casino and thence by car to Evan's Head, where we took part in a weekend school with Aboriginal leaders from northern New South Wales. This was a follow up of a Leadership course held the previous March by Mr A. Grey, preschool officer for the M.E.F. From this course had come a request from the Aborigines themselves to start Aborigine Family Education Centres. The nucleus of each Centre was to be a pre-school group. During this part of our trip we were sponsored by Sydney University's Department of Adult Education, and under the care of Mr Allan Duncan, Tutor in Aboriginal Affairs at the University of Sydney. We were all deeply appreciative of Mr Duncan's help and support during this period. He is an enthusiast, has a great respect for the Aboriginal people and works hard for their advancement.