Foxy, obviously you have never been to a remote aboriginal community. They all have air conditioned classrooms with a teacher/ student ratio that urban teachers can only dream of. I know one remote school that has 55 students with 4 teachers and a teaching assistant, but the kids are working years behind their age level because those who actually turn up to school are frequently too hungry and tired to absorb any knowledge. And many have behavioural problems. The government provides the school structure and housing for teachers. The kids get free breakfast and lunch every day.
The same goes for the health clinics. Every community has an airconditioned clinic staffed by experienced nurses and a multitude of health workers. Doctors fly into the community at least once a week and specialists like paediatricians, obstetricians and surgeons visit the communities on a regular basis. In fact, you can get a child seen by a paediatrician in a remote community faster than you could get one in a city. No year
long waiting lists, kids get seen at the next paediatrician visit, which is generally every 3
months. Once again the government provides all buildings, including staff accomodation.
(Cont)

Foxy (cont)
Now compare that to white people living on a cattle station in the same remote area. The government doesn’t provide them with any building for teachers or classrooms. They have to provide their own. If the number of children on a station exceed a certain number, it used to be ten children, then the government t will provide a teacher but the station owners have to provide both the school room and the teachers accomodation at their own expense.
Same with health services. Yes, there are smaller populations on cattle stations but even the small aboriginal outstations get visiting nurses if they can’t travel into the community itself. White people have to get themselves to health services unless they are on the Flying Doctor circuit, then they get to see a doctor once a week or fortnight, but nothing in between. No nurse or health worker there.
When my children were small, my husband and I lived in a Remote community for years. I am well aware of what services and facilities are available. And no, my children were never sick and they were well educated by me at home because the Level at the school was appalling due to the problems I have already spoken of.
As for the other issues you mentioned. Can you please let me know of any race that hasn’t suffered war, invasion, slaughter etc. . It is incredibly paternalistic, in fact racist, to infer that aboriginal people aren’t able to overcome the same traumas that every other culture has had to overcome.
When the South Vietnamese fled here, I didn’t hear anyone calling for special measures for those survivors of a horrific civil war.
You do Aboriginal people a great disservice by trying to treat them differently to the rest of the population.

BAZINGA!

And there it is.
Big Nana, has slam dunked this one and it is a done deal.
The voice of reason and experience.
Objectivity at it's best, with not a murmur of subjectivity or emotion.
Just the good ole' plain truth and straight to the point.
I wish I were as articulate.
It is so pleasant to witness such deliveries.
Where-as the opposing force, once again quotes a third party.
I don't think we have ever heard an original thought from her, have we?
Oh well we'll see her again on another thread.
Well done to Big Nana and all those who put forward an alternate and realistic submission on this topic.
I'm glad to be a part of this.

Thanks, Big Nana, spot-on !

I wonder if many well-intentioned but ignorant people are so terrified of being called racist that they dare not ever criticise any Indigenous point of view. But surely the path to the truth and justice (for anybody) is to hold up every suggestion for critical examination ? That ideas can only improve with friendly criticism ? They can only fester, or take people up the wrong paths (perhaps for decades), if no criticism is allowed ?

Ttbn,

Just to chuck a cat amongst the pigeons, I think of myself as more left-centre than right. Sorry :)

Joe

Dear Big Nana,

You are right I personally have not lived in a
remote regional community. Although my older
brother lived in the outskirts of Darwin for
many years and he taught in an Aboriginal community.
My younger brother lives in Kempsey
and he tells me of the Aboriginal community there
and its problems. Also one of my grand-children's
teachers taught in Aboriginal communities and has
told me a great deal about her work there.

Of course, I respect your opinion and am as always,
interested in what you have to say.

I've expressed my views in this discussion so I don't
see any reason to keep repeating them. Only to add
that I don't think it fair to make sweeping
generalisations about remote communities. I believe
that they differ greatly and have their own regional
problems that vary from area to area. Not all of
them are as you describe. But I can appreciate that
you can only go by what you have experienced.

I in no way, mean to suggest, that the Indigenous
people are not capable of rising to the occasion
and taking care of themselves. That is precisely what
the Uluru Statement is asking for - the responsibility
to do just that. To have an input into government
policies and programs that affect their lives.

Anyway, Thank You for your thoughts. They are appreciated.
It has been quite educational.

Sure enough, she's back after saying she didn't want to argue anymore. No self-control, no dignity.