Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners, the Turrubal, Yugerra and Jagera peoples, on whose land we meet tonight and acknowledge their Elders both past and present. I would also like to acknowledge the sorry business that is happening out there at the moment. My thoughts are with those families.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does.

ANTaR Qld is a small group of people. We have just over three hundred paid up members, a management committee of ten and some dedicated working group members who throw themselves into our major events, our lobbying and our learning more events.

As many of you would know last year was my first year as President and I remember saying was a privilege it was to hold such a job. This year, as I stand before you looking at my second year – I want to say that that feeling still holds. It is such a privilege. I am not the same person as last year – I have learnt more. I have learnt so much and I will learn more still.

The best thing I have learnt is what an amazing group of people hold ANTaR close to their hearts – how dedicated, how passionate, how generous. Together we have achieved so much.

2009 was the year we launched ourselves into the Reducing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Imprisonment Rates in Qld starting with the Forum at Parliament House. It was also the year we began delivering a new fledging program called the Learning More Program attracting email subscribers and enrolees to this self lead program.

Money does not drive ANTaR but it allows us to keep our office going. To that end as Dave will tell you people have been very supportive. We have received special donations from the Bonds and the Quakers in support of Project 10% and the BCC gave us $10,000 to pay for workshops and study guides for the Learning More Program. We increased both our member numbers and our personal donations allowing us to employ 2 rather than one worker this year – which is very exciting for this little organisation.

This all helps us do the real work we are here for which is to lobby for justice in this State. I could list all the things we have done but instead I would like to specially thank the following people:

• Mark Oss Emer for running our office and sending out over 48 weekly announcements on whats on and whats happening

• Camielle Donaghey for organising our branding and new stall signage
• Nadine Lester for writing our Submission to the Human Rights Bill consultation process
• Andrew McMicking for our fabulous Trivia Nights and Stolen Wages work
• Liz Savina for the wonderful Forum Report
• Andrew Bartlett for Writing our Submission on the need to establish a Healing Foundation

• Jan Gilles for her Barriers and Solutions Project 10% Document and Editing of the Learning More Program study Guides
• Mel Wright for writing our submission to the National Framework on Law and Justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
• Megan Williams for her cultural consultation and guidance on Project 10%
• Virginia Clark for printing of our Biannual Newsletters
• Ken Georgetown, Colleen Wall and Nancy Bamaga leading us on Project 10%
• Mary Annand for organising our Learning More Art Workshop at the State Library
• Maree Klemm for the Trivia Nights, helping us with funding applications and organising the Justice Forum
• Dave Levick for being TREASURER
• Marshall Saunders for his gentle guidance on all matter important
• Les Malezer for being our Rep from FAIRA and guiding us in protocol and political matters
• And Monique Bond for recruiting the Reducing Imprisonment Campaign Working Group, writing the Project 10% Campaign Overview, drafting the Call to Action, doing the Close the Gap Award Night and together with Margaret Marshall doing tonight
  

This is not all they have done. It is not all we have done. It is not everyone who needs to be thanked. There is a long list I invite and invite you to read it at your leisure.

We have lobbied, submitted, visited, networked as much as we have been able. For those learning more we have had workshops, discussion, emails and shared meals.

I thank those leaving our committee this year, Nadine Lester, Liz Savina and Virginia Clark and beg them to stay connected and involved. I welcome the new people to our committee, Sue Cameron, Melanie Wright, Annie Cowling, Rubina Smith and Cecilia Homerlein. I hope you are looking forward to the year ahead as much as we are.

Thank you

Kitty Carra

President 2010

ANTaR Achievements 2009

Office and Management

• Increase in our paid up membership base
• Increase in our annual donations

• Increase in our database of interested and supportive individuals and organizations
• audited statements
• Over 48 weekly email announcements
• Increased subscribers
• Increase in our fundraising activity
• A new and improved website
• Two Newsletter mail outs

Lobbying

• ANTaR letter to all MP’s after the election
• ANTaR and Project 10% visits to the Premier, Minister Boyle, Minister Roberts, Minister Fraser, CMC CEO Robert Needham and the MP from Cook
• Departmental Meetings with Police, Justice and Communities
• Letter to the CMC on Palm Island and Police Corruption
• Letter to the Health Minister on Doomadgee death
• Letter to the Premier on the Musgrave Park Cultural Centre
• Submission to the Integrity and Accountabilities Review
• Submission to the Healing Foundation Consultation
• Submission to the Human Rights Consultation Process
• Submission to the National Framework on Law and Justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
• Collection of 350 petition signatures to Reduce Imprisonment Rates in Qld
• Attendance at the NT Intervention Rally
• Attendance at the Child Safety Rally
• Attendance at the Invasion Day Rally
• Attendance at the Flag Rally

Networking

• Partnership with Amnesty, UNAA, QCOSS and Uniting Care Centre for Social Justice on the Reducing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Imprisonment Campaign
• Attendance at the UNAA Conference
• Attendance at the Human Rights consultation workshops
• Attendance at the Sisters Inside Conference
• Attendance at the Criminal Justice Network Launch
• Stall at the 2009 NAIDOC Week Family Day
• Working relationship with MurriWatch and ATSIWLAS on the RA&TSIIQ Campaign
• Campaign networking with Inala Elders, Rockhampton Elders, Brisbane and Surrounds Elders
• Campaign networking with justice sector including Murri Courts, Legal Services and justice sector
• Campaign networking with Senior policy officers from Premiers, Partnerships, Corrections and Justice
• Relationship building with A&TSI community members around the RA&TSIIQ Campaign
  

Events

• AGM and Parliamentary Forum
• Reconciliation Week Trivia Night
• Close the Gap Film Night
• Learning More Workshops x 2
• Learning More Program Discussion Evenings x 4
• Close the Gap Award
• Learning More Family Fun Day
• End of Year Trivia Night
  

Publications and Resources

• Newsletters x 2
• Submissions x 4
• Fact Sheets x 4
• New Website Copy
• Learning More Program Study Guides