Truth Telling - An Indigenous Perspective of the Founding of Stroud

As Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating stated in his ‘Redfern Address’ 1992 regarding the character of all Australians:

The message should be that there is nothing to fear or to lose in the recognition of historical truth, or the extension of social justice, or the deepening of Australian social democracy to include indigenous Australians. There is everything to gain.

Symposium Presenters:

Chairperson – Joshua Gilbert

Joshua Gilbert is a Worimi man and Co-Chair of Reconciliation NSW, where he works to advance truth-telling, justice and genuine partnership between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people across the state. As Assistant Director of the Centre for Indigenous People and Work at UTS, he leads research into racism and cultural safety in Australian workplaces, including the Gari Yala (Speak the Truth) and Towards Indigenous Pay Parity work. Josh advises organisations on moving from awareness to meaningful practice change. He also serves as a Director of Indigenous Business Australia and a Board Member of the NSW Aboriginal Housing Office. Josh is the author of a compelling work – ‘Australia’s Agricultural Identity’ (2025).

Lynda Holden - Truth Telling and the Gag that silences the Voice

Aunty Lynda Holden is a proud Dunghutti and Birrpai woman who is deeply passionate about social justice and human rights. Lynda has worked in nursing, midwifery, mental health, human rights, law and social justice, and actively advocates for Aboriginal peoples in these disciplines. She holds qualifications in nursing, midwifery and law, and has taught in these areas, including a course on Indigenous Australians and the Law, at the University of Western Sydney. Her book ‘This Is Where You Have To Go’ (2024), is a must read for everyone.

Bob Davis - Colonial Capitalism, a Weapon of Territorial Conquest

Bob Davis is a Dungutti/Biripi man from the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. He is an Adjunct Professor of Practice at the University of Newcastle with a 35-year background in public health research and practice. Prior to his retirement in 2023, he dedicated over 40 years to Indigenous health programs on the NSW Mid-North Coast, and as far afield as Broken Hill and Cape York. In 2022, he collaborated with Dr John Heath to co-author ‘Healing the Spirit: A Birrpai Perspective on the Port Macquarie Penal Colony and its Aftermath’. In 2025, Bob published ‘From the Highlands to the Plains’, a three-century history of his mother’s Scottish, English, and Irish heritage. Professor Davis’ latest book, ‘From the Soul of a Man’, recounts the life of his third great-uncle, David Buchanan, a nineteenth-century poet and weaver from Kirkintilloch, Scotland. Bob currently lives in Cairns, Queensland, where he continues to write on Indigenous and early settler histories.

Professor Leanne Holt - Before the First School: Aboriginal Knowledge, Education and the Legacy of Colonisation

Pro Vice Chancellor, UNSW, Leanne Holt (nee Lilley) is from both the Worimi and Birrpai peoples. She has worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education for over 25 years. and is currently the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy) at University of New South Wales. Professor Leanne Holt is currently the President of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Consortium and Deputy Co-Chair of the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium. Leanne holds a PhD from the University of Newcastle and her published works include ‘Talking Strong:- The National Aboriginal Education Committee and the development of the Aboriginal Education policy’ (2021).   

Dr Greg Blyton – Smoking Kills

Dr. Greg Blyton is an internationally published historian and senior lecturer specializing in Australian Aboriginal and Colonial contact history. He has written numerous academic articles and several books including a recent biography called ‘The Fettler’ on the life of late Aboriginal leader W.E. (Bill) Smith. Dr Blyton’s work is mainly focused on the Hunter Region of New South Wales, exploring topics such as the introduction of alcohol and tobacco as mechanisms which undermined Aboriginal health and well-being.

This talk brings to the audience’s attention how tobacco smoking was introduced into Aboriginal communities with arguably a negative effect on the health of Aboriginal communities in the Hunter region of central eastern New South Wales during the early colonial contact period from 1800 to 1850. Of particular focus is the use of tobacco by the inaugural manager of the Australian Agricultural Company, Robert Dawson who cleverly used this addictive substance to develop cordial relationships and utilize the labour of Aboriginal people at Port Stephens in the late 1820s.

Dr John Heath – Lifting the Veil: Truth Telling and the Invasion and Occupation of Worimi and Birrpai Country.

Born in Taree, John Heath is a senior Birrpai Goori with more than 45 years’ experience in Indigenous education, community development, community action research, and historical research. His current appointment is as an Indigenous Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne.

Published outcomes of his research include Birrpai: Beyond the Lens of Thomas Dick (2018), Healing the Spirit: A Birrpai Perspective on the Port Macquarie Penal Colony and its Aftermath co-authored with fellow senior Birrpai Goori Bob Davis (2021), Goori-Bugg Dreaming (2022), Burrawan: The desecration and resurrection of Lake Innes (2024) co-authored with Dr Ashley Barnwell of the University of Melbourne. John will soon launch his latest work Lifting the Veil: The Australian Agricultural Company Invasion and Occupation of Worimi and Birrpai Country.

SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM

9:00am – Registrations and cuppa time

9:30 am – Welcome to Country

9:40 am – Chairperson Joshua Gilbert - Welcome and Symposium Overview

10:00 am – 10:40am Aunty Lynda Holden - Truth Telling and the Gag that silences the Voice

10:40am – 11:10am Morning Tea

11:10am – 11:50am Greg Blyton - Smoking Kills

11:50am – 12:30pm Bob Davis - Colonial Capitalism, a Weapon of Territorial Conquest 

12:30pm- 1:10pm Lunch

1:10pm – 1:50pm Leanne Holt - Before the First School: Aboriginal Knowledge, Education and the Legacy of Colonisation

1:50pm – 2:30pm John Heath - Lifting the Veil: Truth Telling and the Invasion and Occupation of Worimi and Birrpai Country 

2:30pm – 3:00pm Plenary Session and Symposium Reflection – Chairperson

3:00pm – Travel Safe

- Symposium sponsored by University of Newcastle, University of NSW, University of Melbourne, Goori-Bugg Birrpai Indigenous Incorporation.

Contact: Dr John Heath M:0477 653 544 E: gooribugg.outlook.com