This interactive session on Saturday, 12 October, engaged 57 attendees in the spirit of sharing, connection to Country, and truth-telling.

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The event, hosted collaboratively by Reconciliation Dungog and Paterson Allyn Williams Science and Ideas Hub, was supported by Inspiring Australia and the NSW Government.

Aunty Rhonda Radley, Anjilkurri, is a Birrbay/Dhanggati woman known for her work across education and community sectors.

Drawing on her deep knowledge of Aboriginal languages, cultures, and histories, she shared personal stories from the heart, shedding light on the complexities of Aboriginal stories and contemporary realities.

Amid the rise of misinformation and disinformation, she emphasised the importance of truth telling as a pathway to healing and reconciliation.

“Truth telling is the way for us to move forward together,” she shared, noting the importance of understanding the historical conflicts that shape our present knowledge gaps.

At the heart of Dr Radley’s session was the Blackman Point massacre at Port Macquarie, a historical tragedy that has affected her family for generations.

Through her storytelling, she urged both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal audiences to engage in deep listening and acknowledge the ongoing intergenerational trauma linked to early settlement and displacement of Aboriginal peoples.

Reconciliation Dungog Convenor Jenny Akers said: “We need to listen to appreciate the complexity of the issues around colonisation, and this talk has helped us do that.”

The session was a powerful reminder of the need for collective listening and shared responsibility in shaping a future grounded in truth and reconciliation.

By Shannon BENTON