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Gerald Ward Lecture - National Museum, Canberra

This is the second Fr. Gerald Ward Lecture to honour his service to the needy in establishing the St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia in 1854.

Fr. Gerald Archibald Ward, an Englishman, was born in London in 1806 and came to Australia in September 1850.

He brought with him from England a great concern and compassion for people in need, a great lover for the apostle of the poor St Vincent de Paul, and an awareness of the work of the Society.

He established the Society at St Francis, Melbourne on March 4, 1854 less than six months after the death of Blessed Frederic Ozanam.

St Vincent de Paul National Council are pleased to advise that the speaker for the Gerald Ward Lecture for 2009 will be Helen Moran, Indigenous Co-Chair of the National Sorry Day Committee.

The respondent will be Phil Glendenning, Director Edmund Rice Centre.
CV's for both Helen and Phil can be seen below.

6:30pm         Arrival - Performance by Wiradjuri Echoes
7:00pm         Welcome and Introduction
Lecture:        Helen Moran
Response:    Phil Glendenning
Closing:        Syd Tutton
     

Wiradjuri Echoes

The Wiradjuri echoes are a Canberra based dance group, who have performed for the Prime Minister, the King and Queen of Sweden, Prince Fredrik and Princess Mary and the Govenor General, They pride themselves in abolishing stereotypes of aboriginal people whilst sharing the indigenous culture with Canberra, the surrounding regions and much of NSW.

To download a printable version of the invitation, please click here

Helen Moran
Helen is a member of the Stolen Generation, she has done a great deal of work assisting in the promotion of Sorry Day and the Journey of  Healing. Helen moved to Canberra from Sydney back in 1997 and commenced her BA Degree at the National University. While she was the DJ for local 2XX radio’s Indigenous program Sovereign Voices, she produced the compilation album “BURRAAY  Dreaming Them Home” This album presents some of Australia’s finest Aboriginal talents, such as Kev Carmody, Leah Purcell, Kerri-Anne Cox, Tiddas, Archie Roach, Johnny Huckle,  and others. The album was a dedication to the Stolen Generations and their families.
Helen's involvement in the Sorry Day/Journey of Healing movement, brought about her role in negotiating and co-ordinating the launch of the Journey of Healing event with the Mutujulu Community of Uluru in 1999 at the foot of Uluru.
Helen co-wrote, recorded and performed the "Journey of  Healing" song, first at that launch and then throughout the country, including  Sydney Opera House performances for Corroboree 2000.
As a visual artist, Helen also designed  the message of healing that 10 pairs of clap sticks carried on them as the Journey of Healing message was carried through out Australia. Helen was also one of two recipients who received on behalf of all Stolen Generations people of NSW the set of sticks and their message at the launch.
Helen has spoken at numerous schools and colleges. In 2000 she was  invited to tour Western Australia to perform and speak to over 6000 children in a campaign to promote awareness about the Stolen Generations, Sorry Day and the Bringing Them Home Report. From these tours Helen developed Cross Cultural Shows for children from kindergarten through to year twelve. In 2001 another 3000 children were exposed to the Wombat Wobble Cross Cultural shows during a three week South Australian tour.  From these shows Helen also developed, co-wrote and produced and recorded the “Wombat Wobble” album, the “Wombat Wobble Song & Activity Book” and “Corroboree for Kids” She has since co-written, produced, directed and recorded six albums, all of which have been self funded. One of these albums was a community project for the Roebourne Community in Western Australia, where songs were written by the children and community members, they were then recorded and the album was released in the community in 2002. Helen has performed for, workshopped and lectured to over one million children throughout Australia.
Helen has also been involved in the promotion of the “Around The Kitchen Table Reconciliation Resource, adapting the kit  and using it as a foundation tool to structure the Women’s Reconciliation Camps she facilitates.
In April 2007, Helen lobbied senators from around the country to take the name change of  the NATIONAL SORRY DAY back to the senate and have it reinstated as the day of commemoration for the Stolen Generations, their families and Communities. Senator Rachel Siewert took up the challenge and was unfortunately unsuccessful. Helen and Rachel believe that a new change in Government, will turn this around.
Helen has also been co-ordinator for the 2XX Community Radio Indigenous program Sovereign Voices. She has co-ordinated the National Folk Festival Indigenous component,  Winyu for 2004 and 2005.
Most recently Helen was one of the main organisers of the most successful Aboriginal based Sorry Day event in Canberra since the first one held in 1998.
Some of Helen's performances have included the Journey of Healing Launch at Uluru, Great Hall of Parliament House 1999 and 2002, Adelaide Aboriginal Health and Youth Culture Week , Tandanya, World Aids Day, Nangirra Festival 2000 - 2005, Tasmanian Oyster Cove Festival, Adelaide Festival, Woodford Folk Festival 2000, 2002, National Folk Festival 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, The Red Ochre Festival, Ninji Ninji, Stompem Ground 2000, Fairbridge Folk Festival, Tamworth Country Music Festival 2003 & 2007 and the Adelaide Fringe Festival 2004.

Phil Glendenning
Phil is the director of the Edmund Rice Centre. He is also the National President of Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) and the author of the Australian Citizens' Statement that is the basis for ANTaR's Sea of Hands. With a background in education, Third World development and political science, today he is primarily involved in peace and reconciliation work - especially with youth - in Australia, Northern Ireland, Israel and Palestine, Rwanda and Aboriginal Australia. Previously he was the national adult education and information officer of Caritas Australia. In 2007 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by ACU for his human rights work.