The Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway Ramp has been officially named Patyegarang, after a Cammeraygal woman who helped bridge colonial and Indigenous communities. The name was chosen through a collaborative process with local Aboriginal community members. Transport for NSW has also unveiled new bronze signage and a cyclist counter board, which shows live usage statistics. The ramp's opening in January has led to a 30% increase in cycleway usage, averaging 1,600 daily riders over the past six months.
Aboriginal residents of Moree have tabled an e-petition with the NSW Parliament. They want the old Courallie High School converted into an Aboriginal Learning and Cultural Centre. The centre would offer courses tailored to community needs. Polly Cutmore of the Mehi Centre says a targeted youth program would be better than the NSW Police drone program aimed at youth crime. She says partnerships with agencies, including the NSW Department of Education, which owns the grounds, will be essential, and funding will be sought from public and private sources.
Bunurong representative Zoe Upton will speak at an information session on the Victorian Treaty with First Peoples in Mornington on Saturday, 31 October, at 2pm. The event is hosted by the Southern Peninsula Allies at the Studio on Wilsons Road. Organiser Maureen Donelly said Upton's connection to the peninsula and her understanding of its history made her a valued speaker. Donelly said the Treaty, which commenced on 12 December 2025, gives First Peoples a say over policies affecting them and their families. Donelly said it also allows Aboriginal communities to deliver solutions in health, education, employment, justice and housing.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
A memorial to Aunty Heather Boney has been unveiled at Wales Park in Moree, 25 years after her death. Family members marked the 25th anniversary of her death on Saturday 17 October 2026. Those who spoke remembered her generosity, her Christian faith and her fundraising for families in need. Blossom Pitt, who campaigned for the memorial, said Aunty Heather gave her guidance during a difficult childhood. The plaque carries Aunty Heather's portrait, her dates and a verse from the kids of South Side Moree.
The Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT has launched on-the-spot legal services at the ACT Magistrates Court for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people seeking family violence orders. A solicitor will be available three days a week to offer legal representation, advice and referrals. The service aims to provide culturally safe support and empower First Nations people with more agency in choosing legal providers. Legal Aid ACT has also provided free services at the court for 25 years, but faces resource constraints.
Pat O’Shane became the first Aboriginal barrister and magistrate in Australia. Born in 1941 in Mossman, Queensland, she spent four years in hospital after her mother’s death. She refused psychosurgery, stopped her medication and studied law at the University of New South Wales. In 1976 she became the first Indigenous Australian admitted to the Bar. In 1986 she was appointed a magistrate in New South Wales. She received the Marcia Langton award for lifetime achievement in leadership at the Deadly Awards in 2013.
Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan, a Cairns-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisation, is marking 40 years of providing culturally-safe care for Cape York and Torres Strait families. The anniversary celebrations include a gala dinner and a healthy futures conference, featuring speeches and presentations from community leaders and supporters. The organisation began as a grassroots initiative in 1986 to provide accommodation for women and children from remote Far North Queensland communities travelling to Cairns for medical treatment.
Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan is celebrating 40 years of providing culturally safe care in Cairns. The organisation, which began as a grassroots initiative in 1986, will host a gala dinner and a conference to mark the milestone. CEO Theresa Simpson said the anniversary recognises the strength of communities and the guidance of elders. The events will feature speeches, presentations, and discussions from community leaders and health sector representatives.
The Kalumburu airstrip in Western Australia's Kimberley region has been upgraded to improve safe and reliable air access for the remote Aboriginal community. The project, funded by both the Cook and Albanese Labor governments, included resurfacing over 87,000 square metres of the runway, taxiway, and apron, as well as drainage improvements. The upgrades were carried out in consultation with local Aboriginal corporations and created employment opportunities for residents. The airstrip is crucial for essential connectivity, including regular flights to Kununurra and access for emergency services like the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
A critically endangered snail has been found in western NSW, with colonies identified in weirs on the Darling and Barwon rivers. Ecologists say human-made water infrastructure, once a threat, has become a habitat for the molluscs. Aboriginal rangers confirmed the discovery, with signs of breeding raising hopes for the species' survival. The NSW government is working on a research project to translocate and repopulate the snail.
The burial site of Yuranigh, a Wiradjuri man who guided explorer Major Sir Thomas Mitchell, has stood near Molong for over 175 years. Orange City Councillor Gerald Power led a five-year effort to improve on-site information. Yuranigh accompanied Mitchell on his 1845-46 journey into present-day Queensland, sharing his knowledge of the country. The grave is encircled by five carved trees, unique to Wiradjuri culture for significant people. Power said the updated signage helps visitors engage with and appreciate the history.
The new $126 million Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre at the Twelve Apostles will open to the public next week. The centre includes a 230-seat cafe, gallery, visitor information spaces, and a rooftop lookout. Visitors must book parking in advance, with fees to be introduced from April, but the cost and local fee exemption details remain undecided. The centre is a flagship project of the Geelong City Deal, funded by federal and Victorian governments.
About 300 protesters rallied in Darwin to oppose the Northern Territory government’s plan to close a homeless shelter and relocate residents 100km away to Batchelor. The shelter houses up to 400 mainly Aboriginal residents, including domestic violence survivors and those needing medical treatment. Federal Minister Malarndirri McCarthy urged the NT government to extend the centre’s operation for at least six months, citing the urgency for vulnerable families. The NT government plans to move residents to temporary accommodation in Batchelor, despite federal funding offers to keep the Darwin shelter open.
A former bishop of Broome, Christopher Alan Saunders, has been sentenced to six years and six months in prison for sexually abusing two young Aboriginal men. The 76-year-old was found guilty of 13 sex offences, including sexual penetration without consent and unlawful assault, between 2008 and 2019. Saunders will be eligible for parole after serving four years and six months. The Catholic Church has said it will restart a probe into his activities, with the findings to inform decisions about his position in the church.
Christopher Saunders, the former Catholic bishop of Broome, has been sentenced to at least four years and six months in prison for sexually abusing two young Aboriginal men in Western Australia. The 76-year-old was jailed for six years and six months for offences committed between 2010 and 2019. The court heard Saunders invited young men to gatherings, supplied them with alcohol, and sexually assaulted them. The abuse occurred at a Broome beach house, a church residence, and remote Kimberley communities. Saunders was found guilty of one count of rape and 12 counts of unlawful and indecent assault.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
The former Bishop of Broome, Christopher Alan Saunders, has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison for sexually abusing two young Aboriginal men. The 76-year-old was convicted of one count of sexual penetration and 12 counts of indecent assault. The offences occurred in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, where Saunders was the bishop. The court heard that Saunders held gatherings where he supplied alcohol and food to young men, engaging in wrestling and boxing with them.
A resident has criticised plans for buildings on the Jetty Foreshores in Coffs Harbour, despite 70 per cent of locals voting for open space. The writer argues the NSW Government ignored Aboriginal Elders' calls to preserve the area, which is culturally significant. They also question the lack of affordable housing details and the risks of climate change impacts on the development.
The former Bishop of Broome, Christopher Alan Saunders, has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison for sexually abusing two young Aboriginal men. The 76-year-old was convicted of one count of sexual penetration and 12 counts of indecent assault. The offences occurred in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, where Saunders was the bishop. The court heard that Saunders held gatherings where he supplied alcohol and food to young men, engaging in wrestling and boxing with them.
