YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 PAGE
YOUR
Community
Two Aboriginal leaders
receive honours
Council is committed to celebrating the many and varied
achievements of our Aboriginal people, and is proud that
in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours two of our
residents, Uncle Lewis O’Brien and Uncle Vincent
Copley, won awards.
Kaurna Elder Uncle Lewis O’Brien was awarded an AO for
distinguished service to the Indigenous community of South
Australia as an elder and educator, and for the promotion
and protection of Indigenous culture and heritage. Uncle
Lewis, aged 84 and living in Ethelton, is well known and
loved within the local community and throughout Australia
for his commitment to teaching Kaurna culture and the
preservation of language.
He was quoted as saying: “The recognition is nice but for
me it is more about getting the recognition of Aboriginal
people and the work being done.”
Uncle Vincent Copley, who lives in Hillcrest, received an
AM for significant service to the Indigenous community
as an advocate for the improvement of social, legal and
economic rights and cultural identity.
As one of the boys who was moved to St Francis Boy’s
Home in Glanville as a young child, Uncle Vincent
epitomises the achievements of that group. His endeavors
in supporting the participation of Aboriginal youth in sport,
particularly cricket and football, are recognised throughout
the country. The role Uncle Vincent played in advocating
for Aboriginal rights, along with Charlie Perkins, has left a
lasting legacy for all, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal.
The City of Port Adelaide Enfield congratulates both
Uncle Lewis O’Brien and Uncle Vincent Copley on
this well-deserved recognition. Both will be presented
with their awards by the South Austalian Governor in
September 2014.
Suicide Prevention Awareness
National Suicide Prevention Day takes place on Wednesday
10 September. The newly formed Port Adelaide Suicide
Prevention Network will hold an event at the Semaphore
Foreshore on this day from 11am to raise awareness
about suicide – and the support available within the local
community for those who may at risk of suicide and for
those who may have been affected by suicide.
Suicide is a major social and public health issue. While
such deaths can occur for many reasons, and many complex
factors might influence a person’s decision to suicide, these
preventable deaths point to individuals who may be less
connected to support networks.
The City of Port Adelaide Enfield has a suicide rate 37%
higher than the metropolitan average, a statistic that the
Suicide Prevention Network is aiming to reduce. All
members of the community are welcome to attend the event
which is being held in a non-threatening environment with
activities, entertainment and amusements. If you would
like some further information, please contact the Network
Chairperson, Marc on 0433 554 274.
‘Bunch of Blokes’ - a new
social group for men over 65
Are you over 65 and looking for something to do?
‘Bunch of Blokes’ is a new group for men in the Council
area that have found themselves with a loss of some
form in their life. The group will focus on everyday skill
enhancement whilst concentrating on the individual needs
of participants with an emphasis on fun.
The group is offering: group activities, community outings,
meeting new people, guest speakers, information, skills
learning, networking and a bit of fun.
‘Bunch of Blokes’ meets on a Thursday afternoon at a
central location, and transport is available if required. If
you think that this might be the group for you or you know
someone who might be interested, then please contact the
Community Services Team at Council on 8405 6804 for
further information.
SALA 2014 Night Mural
