Representatives from several major cultural institutions and organisations came together at ANU on May 3 to discuss a new research project on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Defence participation.

The ANU National Centre for Indigenous Studies and Australian Centre for Indigenous History, the Australian War Memorial, National Archives of Australia, National Library of Australia, AIATSIS, the Department of Defence and the Department of Veterans Affairs and  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans Association representatives attended. Harry Allie a descendant of the Kudjula Tribal group who spent 23 and half years with the RAAF, came from Sydney to represent the interests of Indigenous Veterans.

The first meeting was held to provide advice to the researcher working on the project and to discuss development of a Linkage grant application for submission in November 2011.

The meeting, chaired by NCIS Director Mick Dodson was constructive, and lively discussion continued after the meeting over lunch.

Image caption: Representatives at the advisory group meeting. L to R, back : Gary Oakley (AWM, ATSIVSA), Robert Noble (DVA), Eric McDonald (DVA), Geoffrey Gray (AIATSIS), Kevin Bradley (NLA), Mick Dodson (NCIS), Ann McGrath (ACIH), L to R front: Allison Cadzow (ACIH and NCIS), Donna Boulton (Defence), Hilary Rowell (NAA)