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Five questions to Kimberley Benjamin: on the reconciliation process Five questions to Kimberley Benjamin: on the reconciliation process
(3 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.
Tell us about who you areTell us about who you are
My name is Kimberley Benjamin, though I’m better known as Kimba. I am a My name is Kimberley Benjamin, though I’m better known as Kimba. I am a proud 20 year old Yawuru and Bardi woman from Broome, western Australia. At the moment I live in the beautiful Whadjuk Noongar country of Perth, where I attended boarding school for five years and studied journalism at Curtin University. I am currently working for Reconciliation WA, a not-for-profit organisation based in Perth that provides leadership, advocacy and support to people and organisations driving the movement for reconciliation in WA. I have a deadly boss, James Back, and an inspiring board full of people who have been a part of the reconciliation movement for years, including senior Australian of the Year, Fred Chaney. In my spare time I am also one of the youth ambassadors for the Recognise This campaign and am actively involved in the youth organisation ICEA Foundation (Indigenous Communities Education and Awareness).
proud 20 year old Yawuru and Bardi woman from Broome, western Australia. At the I grew up in Broome, a very multicultural town, where our strong Aboriginal and Asian heritages have been celebrated for a long time. Anyone who has been to Broome or met a local Broome person will have noticed this strong unique blend of cultures. Growing up in Broome, we never questioned the colour of each other’s skin, we just accepted it! So it was weird for me to move to Perth and find my new peers, friends and teachers did not know much about Aboriginal peoples and culture. But I embraced this, and took opportunities to share my story… I suppose, in hindsight, that’s how my own reconciliation journey started.
moment I live in the beautiful Whadjuk Noongar country of Perth, where I What do you plan to focus on during your week as host of @IndigenousX?
attended boarding school for five years and studied journalism at Curtin As the host of @IndigenousX, I plan to focus on National Reconciliation Week (#NRW2014 if you’re using Twitter), as I am taking over in the middle of this special week - how deadly! I’m looking forward to the opportunity to reflect and celebrate with the twittersphere and our mob on what makes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people so special. Here in Perth, many organisations have been celebrating National Reconciliation Week with events big and small – from morning teas, to Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) launches, to the massive Perth Sorry Day event on 26 May. In my role at Reconciliation WA, I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of many events already this week, and am excited to have had lots of opportunities to speak to people about the Recognise campaign and why it’s so important to me. I’m looking forward to talking to the wider @IndigenousX audience about constitutional recognition this week too!
University. I am currently working for Reconciliation WA, a not-for-profit organisation based in Perth that I will also be heading to Melbourne this weekend to take part in the 10th anniversary of the Long Walk and watch the mighty Dockers take on the Bulldogs for the AFL’s Indigenous Round, I can’t wait to share with you what the Fremantle Dockers have been up to for Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week too, it’s pretty special (if you haven’t already heard!).
provides leadership, advocacy and support to people and organisations I’m also excited to tell you more about the work we’re involved in at Reconciliation WA, not to mention the exciting things we have planned for 2014 and beyond!
driving the movement for reconciliation in WA. I have a deadly boss, James What issues are you most passionate about and why?
Back, and an inspiring board full of people who have been a part of the I have a passion for the media, and am consumed by how powerful it can be in influencing society. I believe our mob have been misrepresented in the media for far too long, and that’s a big part of the reason why I chose to study journalism at university. While I was at university I saw National Indigenous TV (NITV) come to life, which was a huge thrill, and something that made me hopeful for the future. I’m looking forward to being able to contribute and share more positive stories of my people with the rest of the world.
reconciliation movement for years, including senior Australian of the Year, Fred Chaney. In my spare time I am also one of the youth ambassadors for Who are your role models, and why?
the Recognise This campaign and am actively involved in the youth organisation ICEA Foundation (Indigenous Communities Education and Awareness). When I was a kid, Cathy Freeman was my hero. I admired her resilience and determination, and used to read her autobiography over and over again. At the time I had big hopes to be just like her, and run in the 400m at the Olympics!
I grew up in Broome, a very multicultural town, where our strong Today, Fred Chaney is someone who really inspires me, and it’s been such a privilege to get to know him much better over the past year. Fred’s passion and genuine love for our country and our mob shines through in everything I’ve seen him do. I especially love hearing him talk about the important role of young people in the reconciliation journey, he’s really helped me understand the special role we all have to play.
Aboriginal and Asian heritages have been celebrated for a long time. Anyone who My most important role model though, is definitely my mum, Susanne Bowles. Mum is a Yawuru and Bardi woman who grew up in Broome. She’s worked as a teacher for over 30 years but at the moment has an amazing job working at Reconciliation Australia, developing resources for schools to use in their own reconciliation journey. Mum’s always been there for me, encouraging me each step of the way. She’s my never-ending advice giver, I wouldn’t know what to do without her. Thanks mum, love you!
has been to Broome or met a local Broome person will have noticed this strong What are your hopes for the future?
unique blend of cultures. Growing up in Broome, we never questioned the colour My big hope is to see the First Australians recognised in Australia’s founding document, the constitution. I believe this will be one of the most important parts of the Australian reconciliation journey. If you want to be a part of our shared history too, jump onto the Recognise website and show your support.
of each other’s skin, we just accepted it! So it was weird for me to move to On a more personal level, in the future I hope to travel and see the world, make films and find interesting untold stories of our mob to share, and to continue to find ways to contribute towards a future for Australia based on mutual respect, truth, healing and justice.
Perth and find my new peers, friends and teachers did not know much about
Aboriginal peoples and culture. But I embraced this, and took opportunities to
share my story… I suppose, in hindsight, that’s how my own reconciliation
journey started.
What do you plan to focus on
during your week as host of @IndigenousX?
As the host of @IndigenousX, I
plan to focus on National Reconciliation Week (#NRW2014 if you’re using Twitter), as I am taking over in the middle of this
special week - how deadly! I’m looking forward to the opportunity to reflect
and celebrate with the twittersphere and our mob on what makes Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people so special. Here in Perth, many organisations
have been celebrating National Reconciliation Week with events big and small –
from morning teas, to Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) launches, to the massive
Perth Sorry Day event on 26 May. In my role at Reconciliation WA, I’ve been
lucky enough to be a part of many events already this week, and am excited to
have had lots of opportunities to speak to people about the Recognise campaign
and why it’s so important to me. I’m looking forward to talking to the wider
@IndigenousX audience about constitutional recognition this week too!
I will also be heading to
Melbourne this weekend to take part in the 10th anniversary of the
Long Walk and watch the mighty Dockers take on the Bulldogs for the AFL’s
Indigenous Round, I can’t wait to share with you what the Fremantle Dockers
have been up to for Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week too, it’s pretty special
(if you haven’t already heard!).
I’m also excited to tell you
more about the work we’re involved in at Reconciliation WA, not to mention the
exciting things we have planned for 2014 and beyond!
What issues are you most
passionate about and why?
I have a passion for the media,
and am consumed by how powerful it can be in influencing society. I believe our
mob have been misrepresented in the media for far too long, and that’s a big
part of the reason why I chose to study journalism at university. While I was
at university I saw National Indigenous TV (NITV) come to life, which was a
huge thrill, and something that made me hopeful for the future. I’m looking
forward to being able to contribute and share more positive stories of my
people with the rest of the world.
Who are your role models, and
why?
When I was a kid, Cathy Freeman
was my hero. I admired her resilience and determination, and used to read her
autobiography over and over again. At the time I had big hopes to be just like
her, and run in the 400m at the Olympics!
Today, Fred Chaney is
someone who really inspires me, and it’s been such a privilege to get to know
him much better over the past year. Fred’s passion and genuine love for our
country and our mob shines through in everything I’ve seen him do. I especially
love hearing him talk about the important role of young people in the
reconciliation journey, he’s really helped me understand the special role we
all have to play.
My most important role model
though, is definitely my mum, Susanne Bowles. Mum is a Yawuru and Bardi woman
who grew up in Broome. She’s worked as a teacher for over 30 years but at the
moment has an amazing job working at Reconciliation Australia, developing
resources for schools to use in their own reconciliation journey. Mum’s always
been there for me, encouraging me each step of the way. She’s my never-ending
advice giver, I wouldn’t know what to do without her. Thanks mum, love you!
What are your hopes for the
future?
My big hope is to see the First
Australians recognised in Australia’s founding document, the constitution. I
believe this will be one of the most important parts of the Australian
reconciliation journey. If you want to be a part of our shared history too,
jump onto the Recognise website and show your support.
On a more personal level, in the
future I hope to travel and see the world, make films and find interesting
untold stories of our mob to share, and to continue to find ways to contribute
towards a future for Australia based on mutual respect, truth, healing and
justice.