Geraldton justice community “joins hands” with locals to mark Reconciliation Week

Members of the Geraldton justice community took to the streets on Friday as a show of solidarity with Mid West Indigenous families as part of Reconciliation Week.

Organised by the Department of Justice and the Justice and Community Network, the event included representatives from Geraldton police, the Geraldton Courthouse, local schools and other members of the community who walked along the foreshore to promote reconciliation.

Mid West-Gascoyne District Supt Roger Beer said everyone in the community had a role to play in reconciliation.

“Reconciliation is about being united as one community ... and walking together, as we have (on Friday),” he said.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Reconciliation Australia, but Supt Beer said there was much work left to be done. “There is a hard road ahead,” he said.

“I know we are 20 years in, but really we are still at the start and we still have a long way to go.”

Supt Beer said Geraldton Police hoped to continue to develop positive relationships with the local Aboriginal community.

“What we need to do and what we are trying to do is engage more with Aboriginal people away from those times when police are needed for a particular reason, and just be out there and talk to people and understand what’s important to them,” he said.

“It’s about building trust.”