Minute by the Lord Mayor
To Council:
The
Woolloomooloo community along with many City staff were saddened by the recent
passing of Aunty Selena Blakeney. Her family has given me permission to honour
her life in this Lord Mayoral Minute.
Born on 13
September 1948, Aunty Selena identified as a Yaegl /
Wiradjuri woman from Cabbage Tree Island. Passionate about her culture and
communities, she shared her time between her family and the communities of
Cabbage Tree Island and Woolloomooloo. A generous and kind respected Elder, she
was also known in the Woolloomooloo Community as the Black Queen.
Her
Woolloomooloo home was a gathering place, a place for all ages to meet, feel
welcome and enjoy a sense of belonging. On Christmas Eve, she would have her
famous spaghetti bolognaise ready for anyone who popped in for a yarn.
Beyond her
home she helped organise many NAIDOC gatherings and community events. The City is particularly grateful for Aunty Selena’s leadership,
advocacy and assistance in supporting the needs of the Woolloomooloo community
during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Aunty
Selena’s legacy will continue through the many community projects she worked on
over her years. Most recently, we recognise her success in creating ‘Matora Mob Committee’ with support from the City, which provides a space for the needs and aspirations
of the Woolloomooloo community that she cared so deeply about.
COUNCILLOR CLOVER MOORE
Lord Mayor
Moved by
the Chair (the Lord Mayor), seconded by Councillor Scott –
It is resolved that:
(A) Council note:
(i)
Aunty Selena Blakeney was an elder and wise
woman from Yaegl and Wiradjuri lands, living from
1948 until 2022;
(ii)
Aunty Selena has been remembered as a strong,
cultural woman who stood her ground, for her people;
(iii)
Aunty Selena played a role in delivering
successful native title claims on Yaegl and Wiradjuri
lands, securing outcomes for Indigenous Australians on lands known by many as
Cabbage Tree Island and Yamba; and
(iv)
much of Aunty Selena’s life was spent, with her
family, in Woolloomooloo advocating for our City’s Indigenous communities,
bringing together diverse communities to achieve tangible outcomes over the
long term;
(B) all persons attending this meeting of
Council observe one minute’s silence to commemorate the life of Aunty Selena Blakeney and her
significant contribution to the Woolloomooloo community;
(C)
Council
express its condolences to Aunty Selena’s family; and
(D)
the Lord
Mayor be requested to convey Council’s condolences to Aunty Selena’s family.
Carried
unanimously.
S051491
Note – the
Chair (the Lord Mayor) acknowledged the presence of Michelle Blakeney, Ruby Lai
Blakeney, Natasha Davies and Kori Blakeney.
Note – All Councillors, staff, and members of the public present stood
in silence for one minute as a mark of respect to Aunty Selena Blakeney.