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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/28/five-questions-to-lynore-k-geia-on-reconciliation

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Five questions to Lynore K Geia: on reconciliation Five questions to Lynore K Geia: on reconciliation
(4 months later)
Each week, a new guest hosts the @IndigenousX twitter account to discuss topics of interest as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. In partnership with IndigenousX, we’re inviting its weekly host to tell us about who they are, what issues they’re passionate about, and what they have in store for us during their upcoming week.Each week, a new guest hosts the @IndigenousX twitter account to discuss topics of interest as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. In partnership with IndigenousX, we’re inviting its weekly host to tell us about who they are, what issues they’re passionate about, and what they have in store for us during their upcoming week.
1. 1. Tell us about yourself
Tell us about yourself I’m Lynore, one of 10 children born and raised on Palm Island, North Queensland, daughter to Thomas and Betty Geia. I’m a Bwgcolman woman, passionate about the people I belong to and the country I belong to – Palm Island.
I’m Lynore, one of 10 children born and raised on I’m a sole parent of three fine young men aged between 14 and 19, and I raise them the Murri way and mainstream way so they have a sure foot in both world. I’m also a nurse/midwife/researcher and academic currently at James Cook University in Townsville. I’m currently teaching student nurses and midwives on delivering best practice in their care for Indigenous peoples in the Australian health system.
Palm Island, North Queensland, daughter to Thomas and Betty Geia. I’m a Bwgcolman woman, passionate about the people I My life’s passion about freedom. The freedom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people from internal and external oppression, from an individual level all the way to family and community level. My passion also extends to reconciliation through building relationships with no –Indigenous people, both in Australia and other nations.
belong to and the country I belong to – Palm Island. I relax with my collection of Jane Austen films and various period films, thrown in with a good mix of Australian drama and BBC Spooks series – a good mix of action and serenity.
I’m a sole parent of three fine 2. What do you plan to focus on during your week as host of @IndigenousX?
young men aged between 14 and 19, and I raise them the Murri way and mainstream way so I will be tweeting about life as an Indigenous person and talk about academia, community and health issues. I'll promote the #IHMayDay Indigenous health tweet fest day.
they have a sure foot in both world. I’m I’ll write about stories from my PhD thesis about our "old people" – their time and their vision – and I’ll also touch on issues that our young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people are facing today in rural, remote and urban living – specifically service gaps and possible ways to bridge them.
also a nurse/midwife/researcher and academic currently at James Cook University Finally, I'll mention reconciliation, my personal views on this along with my experiences.
in Townsville. I’m currently teaching student nurses and midwives on delivering best practice in their care for Indigenous peoples in the Australian health system. 3. What issues are you most passionate about and why?
My life’s passion about freedom. The freedom of Aboriginal I care deeply about individual and family holistic health, and developing ways of working with our families by building capacity, and stretching the boundaries of the programs that are implemented on communities.
and Torres Strait Island people from internal and external oppression, from an individual level all the way to family and community level. My passion also My ongoing passion is parenting the fine young men in my life – on every road there’s a turn and associated parenting skills to negotiate those turns ... it’s challenging but rewarding. There is no greater joy for me as a parent than to see my sons walking both worlds in Australia as best as they possibly can, with a vision for their future.
extends to reconciliation through building relationships with no –Indigenous 4. Who are your role models, and why?
people, both in Australia and other nations. My greatest role models have been my parents Thomas and Betty Geia, who were leaders in our family home and community. Both have passed on but have left a profound legacy for their children to carry on. Their stories of survival, resilience and hope have left a deep and lasting impression on me.
I relax with my collection of Jane Austen films and various period films, thrown in with a good My greatest academic role model and mentor is the late emeritus professor Barbara A Hayes, my Murri/Migloo friend who taught me much about balance in academia, research, and staying true to my Indigenous self in an ocean of western academic paradigms. Barbara passed away on St Patrick’s Day this year.
mix of Australian drama and BBC Spooks series – a good mix of action and I am also inspired by the lives and works of many social justice leaders and fighters, in Australia and beyond. To name a few, the Kalkadoon warriors of Battle Mountain, Vincent Lingari, Rosemary Kyle, Albert Geia Snr, The Magnificent Seven of Palm Island, William Cooper, David Unaipon, Faith Bandler, Gough Whitlam, Dr Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther of the Reformation, Mother Teresa, William Wilberforce and Olaudah Equiano.
serenity. 5. What are your hopes for the future?
2. What I want to see in our country is black and white Australia sharing a deep understanding and acceptance of our nation’s past in order to reconcile the past with the present. I want to see a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander people can have dreams, and see those come to fruition in their lives.
What do you plan to What can readers do to help you create this future? For me, it starts with a "hello, my name is …", a strong hand shake, an invitation to have a cuppa, the neighbourhood yarn as your water the garden on your respective sides of the fence ... I want people to tell ne their stories, I want to listen and understand, and maybe we’ll find we have some shared experience that opens up another door of dialogue, along another level of understanding and acceptance without prejudice.
focus on during your week as host of @IndigenousX? Big dreams I know, some may say it will never happen, but I beg to differ …
I will be
tweeting about life as an Indigenous person and talk about academia, community and health
issues. I'll promote the #IHMayDay Indigenous health tweet fest day.
I’ll write about stories from my PhD thesis about our "old people" – their time and their vision – and I’ll also touch on issues that our young Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Island people are facing today in rural, remote and urban living – specifically service gaps
and possible ways to bridge them.
Finally, I'll mention reconciliation, my
personal views on this along with my experiences.
3.
What issues are you
most passionate about and why?
I care deeply about
individual and family holistic health, and developing ways of working with our
families by building capacity, and stretching the boundaries of the
programs that are implemented on communities.
My ongoing passion is parenting the fine young men
in my life – on every road there’s a turn and associated parenting skills
to negotiate those turns ... it’s challenging but rewarding. There is no greater
joy for me as a parent than to see my sons walking both worlds in Australia as
best as they possibly can, with a vision for their future.
4.
Who are your role
models, and why?
My greatest role models have been my parents Thomas
and Betty Geia, who were leaders in our family home and community. Both have passed on but have
left a profound legacy for their children to carry on. Their stories of survival, resilience and hope have left a deep and lasting impression on me.
My greatest academic role model and mentor is the
late emeritus professor Barbara A Hayes, my Murri/Migloo friend who taught me
much about balance in academia, research, and staying true to my Indigenous
self in an ocean of western academic paradigms. Barbara passed away on
St Patrick’s Day this year.
I am also inspired by the lives and works of many
social justice leaders and fighters, in Australia and beyond. To name a few, the
Kalkadoon warriors of Battle Mountain, Vincent Lingari, Rosemary Kyle, Albert
Geia Snr, The Magnificent Seven of Palm Island, William Cooper, David Unaipon,
Faith Bandler, Gough Whitlam, Dr Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther
of the Reformation, Mother Teresa, William
Wilberforce and Olaudah Equiano.
5.
What are your hopes
for the future?
What I want to see in our country is black and
white Australia sharing a deep understanding and acceptance of our nation’s
past in order to reconcile the past with the present. I want to see a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and
South Sea Islander people can have dreams, and see those come to
fruition in their lives.
What can readers do to help you create this future? For me, it starts with a "hello,
my name is …", a strong hand shake, an invitation to have a cuppa, the
neighbourhood yarn as your water the garden on your respective sides of the
fence ... I want people to tell ne their stories, I want to listen and understand, and maybe we’ll find we have
some shared experience that opens up another door of dialogue, along
another level of understanding and acceptance without prejudice.
Big dreams I know, some may say it will never
happen, but I beg to differ …