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Police fly Aboriginal flag


Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie, former Sergeant Michael Williams, Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys and Superintendent Andrew Hurst at the Aboriginal Flag Raising Ceremony at Bourke Police Station last week. PHOTO TWH

Bourke Police Station last week joined the few regional Police Stations in New South Wales to fly the Aboriginal flag.

In a moving ceremony outside the Bourke Police Station, the Aboriginal Flag was raised on site for the first time, by retired Police Sergeant Michael Williams.

Elder Phillip Sullivan delivered a wonderful Welcome to Country, while a traditional smoking ceremony was conducted by James Moore and Dane Edwards and Ben Orcher played the didgeridoo.

Attended by members of Maranguka Community Hub, Bourke Tribal Council, Bourke Shire Council, NSW Department of Education, NSW Police Force and the Bourke community, the ceremony marked the site of the 13th regional NSW Police Station to fly the flag.

The Aboriginal Flag will now be flown at the front of the Bourke Police Station alongside the New South Wales and Australian flags.

In his speech delivered at the ceremony, Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys spoke highly of the Bourke community and the addition of the Aboriginal flag, to signify unity between the Police Force and the indigenous community.

“This significant event marks the future. We cannot forget the past, but we can move forward to a positive future.

“I have been in Bourke and worked in Bourke on many occasions over the years and without a doubt, Bourke has had its bad times and those bad times were dreadful, when we look back on them.


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