Board’s broad appeal

THE NSW Jewish Board of Deputies will broaden its horizons at its next plenum on Tuesday May 12, marking Reconciliation Week.

Fitting in with Reconciliation Week’s 2011 theme “Let’s talk recognition”, discussions at the plenum will centre on constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians.

“Over the next couple of years recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our Constitution will be on the agenda as the federal Government has indicated that there will be a referendum on it, on or before the next election,” Board of Deputies president Yair Miller said.

“When people go to vote, we want them to feel confident and capable of making an informed decision. To do this it is important to start the conversation about the value of recognition for us all and why it is important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in particular.

The meeting will be addressed by Sam Jeffries, co-chair of the newly formed Indigenous representative body, the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples. His co-chair Josephine Bourne will also be present.

Reconciliation Week runs from May 27 to June 3. The meeting will be held in Darlinghurst on Tuesday 17 May at 7.30pm.