One respects the significance heritage items like these have to the descendants of the first Tasmanians, but the fact is that they are Tasmanian relics and should not be the property of any one person or group.
Such heritage items must be protected but it does not follow that they therefore need to be locked away out of sight of the general community.
The petroglyphs and similar heritage items give the opportunity for interaction and conversation between all of us and the Tasmanian Aboriginals, something which would be a significant step towards reconciliation.
Sadly however, there seem to be many in the Tasmanian Aboriginal community intent on claiming exclusive ownership of these Tasmania heritage items so the general community is prevented from access.
The politicisation of Tasmania's early history and associated heritage items is preventing interaction with the rest of us and is further accentuating divisions between those of us who have some Aboriginal heritage and those who do not.
This is against any concepts of genuine reconciliation. There are stories to be told of our ancient history and they belong to all Tasmanians, not just those with a claim to a particular descendance from the first Tasmanians.
Are the TAC and Reconciliation Tasmania prepared to respond positively to this challenge?
John Coulson, Dilston.
FOR CONTEXT SEE:
- Letters to the editor, July 3, 2018: Letters to the editor John Coulson, of Dilston, shares his views on the sale of Anglican churches around Tasmania. John Coulson, of Dilston, shares his views on the sale of Anglican churches around Tasmania. I AGREE with the sentiments of Dick James (Letters, The Examiner, June 10) about the dubious morality of church sales needed to cover compensation for victims of abuse. .................. The sale of the Windermere Church is questionable both morally and legally. e. .................. What gives the church the moral right to sell a building, up kept by the community, with a gravesite of our ancestors? e. .................. My great-grandfather, along with other early residents of the area worked with Dr Matthias Gaunt to establish the facility and he, and my other relatives, are buried there. And one questions the legal position of the Windermere Church by the Anglican Church, which gives them as right to sell this community asset. Furthermore, not all funding from sales is to go to victims of abuse. e. .................. The church has the right to withdraw clergy from services to a church because of poor congregation attendance but extrapolating that to the right to sell property given to communities by early settlers is a step too far. e. .................. Yes, there is an obligation to assist those abused by the clergy, but not at the expense of communities who bear no responsibility for the criminal actions of a few. e. .................. John Coulson, Dilston.
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