Roy Ah-See Resigns as NSWALC Councillor

18 June, 2019

18 June 2019 

Roy Ah-See Resigns as NSWALC Councillor 

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) announces the resignation of Roy Ah-See as Councillor for the Sydney Newcastle Region and Chair of NSWALC. 

His resignation will be effective as of June 30, 2019. He advised Council of his decision yesterday. 

Cr Ah-See declared his intention to not run at the next NSWALC election in November. He expressed a desire to make way for others and pursue new opportunities and positions. The role of a NSWALC Councillor is both demanding and full-time. 

Council accepts his decision and believes it is in the best interest of NSWALC, Land Rights and Roy Ah-See. The Council understands that he will continue to serve the NSW Aboriginal community on the Prime Ministers Advisory Council, the Board of Indigenous Business Australia and the Indigenous Land and Sea Council. 

Cr Ah-See has served as a Councillor since 2007 and has served in both the Chair and Deputy roles over the last two terms. 

During Cr Ah-See’s leadership of the Council, NSWALC has had many achievements including: 

  • Continuing NSWALC’s strong advocacy on Aboriginal land, water and human rights. 
  • Establishing the ambitious direction of the NSWALC Strategic Plan 2018-22, to ensure economic independence and prosperity for Aboriginal people today and into the future. 
  • Establishing the Yarpa Business and Employment Hub with funding from the Australian Government Indigenous Business Sector Strategy. 
  • Commonwealth funding for the Koori Knockout and to establish the NSWALC Aboriginal Fishing Trust. 
  • Celebrations of the 40th Anniversary of NSWALC. 
  • Continuous annual grants to build economic opportunity and community development across the Network. 
  • Leading NSW in the pursuit of self-determination through discussions on treaty, a Voice of Parliament both at a National and State level. 

Deputy Chairperson, Cr Anne Dennis thanked Cr Ah-See for his contributions. 

“On behalf of the Council, we thank Cr Ah-See for his ambitions for the future of Land Rights,” Cr Dennis said. 

“While respecting the decision of Cr Ah-See to pursue our people’s rights through his other positions, the Council at NSWALC can reassure the Network that we remain future focused” 

“We wish Cr Ah-See and his family all the best for the future.” 

Cr Dennis will assume the Chairperson’s functions and responsibilities until further notice.

Acknowledgement

We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners of the lands where we work as well as across the lands we travel through. We also acknowledge our Elders past, present and emerging.

Artwork Credit: Craig Cromelin, from a painting he did titled, "4 favourite fishing holes". It is a snippet of his growing years on the Lachlan River, featuring yabby, turtle, fish and family.

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