BABANA
Aboriginal Men's Group Incorporated

The Babana Aboriginal Mens Group first met in March 2006.

Babana members are motivated by the need in the community for a broad-based non-aligned community group which can be a focal point for community support and development activities and provide positive networking opportunities for local Aboriginal men. More...

Babana Projects in 2008 so far

1. 2008 Aboriginal Diggers Anzac Day March on Friday 25/4/08 A most successful march through Redfern and then a moving service in recognition of Aboriginal Diggers was held at St Saviours Church, Redfern, in support and recognition of Aboriginal Diggers. Many people attended including NSW Governor General Marie Bashir, Mayor SydneyTown Hall Clover Moore and other politicians, diggers, community leaders and Aboriginal elders. Babana men were thanked for their contribution to the success of the day by Clover Moore.
2. Men's Health and Well being day Rodd Island
   An informative and entertaining day was held on National parks Rodd island on thurs 20/3/08 with 110 men attending. There was preventative health info, general health stalls, healing, nutrition to name a few. Thanks to major sponsors South East Sydney and Illawarra Area Health, Care Connect and and Mission Australia. Appreciation Awards were made to Simon Dirs from Souths Care and Mark Carroll from Parole for support to Babana and the community. Information stalls were held from Medicare and the Aboriginal Medical Service who also were responsible for an evaluation of the day. A report of he day is planned to be forwarded to Federal and State Ministers. There were also various workshops held including David Leha on Gamarada healing and David Peachey from Souths Cares and Roly Frail representing men from the Blue mountains. One of the best days so far.
3. Family Violence Forum
   A most successful family violence forum was held Tues-Wed 12th and 13th February 2008, bringing community leaders, officials and local residents together to work proactively together for positive solutions. The key points to arise from this meeting will be released to various media outlets. .
4. Joint Babana Walking Together working together day . A joint Babana and Walking Together outing was held on 4/3/08 with Babana elders and members working with Walking together clients. A great day was held by all and David Leha did an incredible healing session with the men, jason from walking together talked of his new job on the tribal warrior and the views were incredibe www.youtube. com/watch?v=q5CvMmbqmRo
5. Bark Canoe project for Invasion Day 26 January, 2008- Babana fully supported the initiative to enable youth to be trained and to build canoes to lead the Tall Ships on Invasion Day. For more info contact Shane Phillips (ph 96993491) or Hilton Donovan (ph 96981967)
6. A cultural tour involving Aboriginal elders around the Rocks area at Sydney.
7. A cultural trip and ideas gathering involving Babana members and elders travelling down the South Coast, to liaise with other men's groups.

Babana Projects in 2007 included:

1. Another successful gathering of over 100 men at Shark Island from Katoomba, Western Sydney, Campbelltown and Illawarra mens groups.
2. A NAIDOC event at Yamma Dhinawal centre
3. The Second World Indigenous Day at Sydney Town Hall
4. Ongoing representation and consultaltancy with Police regarding community relations
5. Assisting with the Anzac Koori diggers march
6. Encouraging partnerships with the private sector to bring Certificate II training courses into Redfern working with Aliwelch Training, the Walking Together program and the Crossroads.
7. Holding monthly meetings to build community support and encourage networking and support
8. Supporting Probation and parole clients of the Walking Together program to gain work experience via the Tribal Warrior association.
9. Christmas for the kids
   Babana provided the manpower to help run Christmas and Master MC Mr Spinks on the Block on the 5/12 at Redfern Community Centre and Christmas for the kids at Wooloomooloo on 19/12.
   

For info on upcoming 2008 activities check out the righthand side column.

To read about 2006 projects, go to the Achievements page

For more information please contact Mark Spinks on 9243 3546 or 0411282917.

2006-2007 - Other Activities:

Certificate II in Tourism

Aliwelch training with the Assistance of Babana, the 'Crossroads' and the Walking Together program have worked together to create the inaugural Certificate II in Tourism course - see photo gallery - see u tube video clip www.youtube.com

World Indigenous Day

****Babana will host a most successful 2nd World Indigenous Day at the Sydney Town hall on Tuesday 14/8/07 -
see Photo Gallery. We are also on U tube. you will need to copy and paste the following address. www.youtube.com/profile?user=babanagroup

We are now Incorporated

On 27/4/07 we became incorporated through the Dept off Fair Trading, Incorporation number INC9887390

Incorporation insurance

Lucy Turnbull has offered to pay our initial Incorporation required insurance and many thanks to AMS for your support including John Williams and Hector Tarare

Interim Steering Committee

Has been elected on 10/5/07
Chair - Mark Spinks
Deputy Chair - Hector TarareSecretary - Bobby Perry with support from Don Stewart
Treasurer - Don Clarke

Other committee members Eric Robinson, George Long and Hilton Donovan

Associated non Aboriginal committee members (by invitation and with no voting rights)

Don Stewart and Mark Carroll

We have applied for funding through DADAC and Sydney City Council

The Anzac Day Koori Diggers march which Babana members assisted with was an incredible success

Sponsorship - If you would like to sponsor us for various community related functions we can add you to our web page sponsor section.

Others sponsors - Please click on the sponsors section on the left hand side for other sponsors to whom we are most grateful.

Including Babana in your Will - Please feel free to contact Mark Spinks 9243 3546 or 0411282917 to see how you could leave a donation in your last will and testament to Babana

 

New meeting place and day. We are now meeting at ground floor of the Redfern Community Centre, corner Lous and Hugo Sts, Redfern, last friday of each month 12-2 and lunch provided

Family Day on the Block Inspired by Babana member and Chief Executive of the Tribal Warrior, Shane Phillips, Babana members and the community joined together to support the 3rd Family Day on 1/11/08. The Family Day on the Block is about stopping drug dealing on the Block and creating a permanently safe environment for our kids. The next day is set for Sat 6/12/08 from 12 noon till 4. All welcome.

Carer's week

Babana helped celebrate and promote the importance of Carer's week the with an event at Sydney Town Hall . Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore; Sydney Deputy Lord Mayor, Marcelle Hoff
attended Babana’s Monday event. Marcelle, on behalf of Clover Moore gave a
speech that reflected the partnership and good work that the City and Babana have accomplished together. Then later in the week we held a celebration and a series of focus groups on Clarke Island.

Joint Project with Aboriginal Medical Service, Babana and University of NSW for Aboriginal researcher positions
This program is an international research project which includes communities in Canada and New Zealand. The outcome of the program is to increase the capacity of Aboriginal people to conduct social research and to examine the role of resilience. It is well under way with Babana men being mentors for participants in the program. Special thanks to Hector Tarare and John Williams of the AMS for your hard work to get this off the ground. 3 men from the Walking Together program are on this project. Graduation night to acknowledge the men was on Friday 22/8/08.

2008 Redfern Anzac Day March &

Service

When: Friday 25th April 2008

Where: Assemble at The Block, Redfern

Time: 1.00pm for 1.15pm March off

Service: 1.45pm St Saviours Church Redfern

Finish : Service Finish 3.45pm

Click for Flier

Click for 2007 report

Testimonial for Babana Elder Eric Robinson
A testimonial fund raiser for our beloved Babana elder Eric Robinson on (tba), We believe it is better to run such an event when the person is still alive so they can enjoy the proceeds rather than waiting until they have passed on. We need volunteers, Please contact Mark Spinks for more info.

Australian of the Year nomination
Babana Chairperson Mark Spinks has been nominated for Australian of the Year. Good on you Spinksy. He was also a nonimee for the 2007 Australia Justice Awards at Parliament House. This also reflects strongly on the group.

New Initiative for a Men's Healing space in Redfern.
We are happy to support a new initiative which will combine Aboriginal cultural and spirituality with Eastern methods to create a deadly new program with participant ownership . The original graduates, all Babana members (Shane Phillips, Ken Zulumovski, David Leha, David Beaumont and Mark Carroll) are currently running the 2nd community program from 15/9/08 for 10 weeks. Pastor Ray Minnecon, Yabon Person of the year, is the honourary patron of this program. An information/update night will be held at the Redfern Community Centre on 1/9/08 from 6 to 7.30. You are welcome to attend

web page www.treocom.net/gamarada/

Volunteer work for disadvantaged persons on the Tribal Warrior
We are currently organising a way for people on Probation and Parole and associated with the Walking Together program to gain some positive experience and some volunteer work on the Tribal Warrior.