News in brief
Image: Coloured Diggers co-founder, Pastor Ray Minniecon / Photo: City of Sydney
Artists wanted for Indigenous war memorial
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has called for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to submit proposals for a memorial to honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service men and women. The memorial, in Hyde Park South, would be part of the City of Sydney Council’s Eora Journey public art program. “It’s important to acknowledge that even before Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were counted in the census and recognised as citizens, they were putting their lives at risk to defend this country,” said the Lord Mayor. Pastor Ray Minniecon, co-founder of the Coloured Diggers group, said: “We need to make sure we honour the memory of these very brave men and women and do justice to the incredible sacrifice they made.”
Sydney candidate condemns Manus Island detention
The Greens candidate for the federal seat of Sydney has slammed the Federal Government for detaining children in the Australian-run Manus Island Detention Centre in Papua New Guinea. Dianne Hiles said the Labor Government’s policy of locking up children was unjustifiable and damaging. “Locking children up for any reason is a serious measure and should be carefully monitored,” said Ms Hiles. “The necessary checks, balances and independent overview are simply not in place on Manus Island.” Ms Hiles described Manus Island as a “tropical hellhole” and said the government was exposing kids to “things we would never expose Australian children to”.
Sydney Living Museums launched
The Historic Houses Trust of NSW, operator of 12 museums across Sydney – including The Mint, the Justice & Police Museum, Susannah Place and the Museum of Sydney – has rebranded under a new name, Sydney Living Museums. Launching the new identity, director Kate Clark said the organisation wanted a name that better reflected its offerings, which extend beyond historic houses. “We want to remind Sydneysiders that we have 12 amazing places to visit, with something for everyone,” said Ms Clark. “Whether you love architecture, interiors or Australian history, or simply like beautiful things and those personal stories about how people lived.”
