Jason Eades is a proud Aboriginal man born and raised on Gunnai country in south-east Victoria who brings a deep passion and experience in Aboriginal affairs to his role as Director, Aboriginal Melbourne. Jason returns to 3KND Big Brekkie to yarn about the Stolen Generations Memorial Marker.
Aboriginal Melbourne is a Branch within the City of Melbourne that is responsible for working with the Aboriginal community to ensure their needs are heard, respected and influence the delivery of a wide range of Council services and outcomes.
The City of Melbourne is committed to our Reconciliation journey including Truth Telling. Building a Memorial Marker for the Stolen Generations is part of the City of Melbourne’s Reconciliation Action Plan.
In 2021, the Stolen Generations Reparations Steering Committee Report was presented to the State Government. The committee made 54 recommendations, including that all local government authorities establish markers to acknowledge and commemorate the Stolen Generations’ experience.
The Stolen Generations Memorial Marker will create a permanent place in Melbourne to reflect the resilience of the Stolen Generations. The Memorial Marker will include public artwork.
The Memorial Marker will be commissioned through a two-stage process. Stage one invites Aboriginal artists and creatives to express their interest in the project. EOIs are open from 28 August to 20 November via melbourne.vic.gov.au/stolengenerationsmarker.
Shortlisted artists will then be invited to develop a creative concept in consultation with the Stolen Generations Working Group and Council.
An independent Stolen Generations Working Group has been established to guide the project. Members include Stolen Generations Survivors and their descendants, Traditional Owners, and organisations which assist Stolen Generations and their families.
Before joining the City of Melbourne, Jason was the inaugural CEO of Home - Welcome to Country a tech startup that created an online marketplace to connect travellers to First Nations tours and experiences across the country and an online store of products either made by First Nations people or genuine collaborations.
He is a previous CEO of the Koorie Heritage Trust, and one of four Aboriginal co-owners that founded PwC’s Indigenous Consulting.