Yakila celebrates the journey so far, and looks to future progress
- simoneworthing
- Sep 25
- 5 min read
“Don’t come together to talk about what’s wrong but what’s strong.” – Shirli Congoo
BY SIMONE WORTHING
Over 160 delegates gathered for the Yakila – Walking and Talking Together conference at the Novotel Sunshine Coast, Queensland, on 10-13 September.
Shirli Congoo, General Manager of the Territorial Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministry team, welcomed the delegates on the opening night: “The Yakila Gathering is dedicated to fostering connection, reconciliation, cultural safety and understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander spirituality among participants. This gathering is a vital space for connection and solidarity.”
Shirli emphasised that this year’s theme – cultural safety, reconciliation and First Nations spirituality – invited deep listening and wholehearted engagement.
The annual conference was held on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Photos: Kathy Hughes
The gathering was an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Salvation Army personnel, including senior leaders, to walk alongside each other through truth-telling and prayer to seek greater understanding and improved outcomes.
The event also celebrated the completion of the newly launched Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP); the deepening of The Salvation Army Australia’s ongoing commitment to respectful relationships, equity and justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People; and the journey The Salvation Army has taken with First Nations People since the launch of the first stage of the national RAP in 2020.
Throughout the Yakila gathering, speakers, leaders and delegates acknowledged and celebrated the progress already made, and highlighted the work that still needs to be done to bring about ongoing, significant change.
The first two days of the conference were specifically designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander personnel and Salvationists, emphasising cultural safety, reconciliation and the concepts of sharing, contribution and connection to promote social and emotional wellbeing. Non-Indigenous personnel and corps members participated during the remaining two days.
Uncle Vince Ross, a Madi Madi man, The Salvation Army’s convenor of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council and Order of the Founder recipient, brought prayers, greetings and reflections.
“For me and Auntie Enid, what we see at Yakila gives us encouragement to keep going,” he said.
“From where we started and where we are now, I think it’s so exciting, so good, so encouraging. And I think that’s why I’m still hanging around because I just want to encourage others on that journey. What we are doing and seeing together – lives being changed, people being encouraged and motivated, the growing and developing taking place – we’ve got to keep building on this through the opportunities we have.”
After-dinner yarns and ‘chill-outs’ were important times at the end of each day for connection and storytelling.
Informal catch-ups were an important part of the Yakila gathering.
Strong not wrong
Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, who attended Yakila over the weekend days, said that two aspects of the gathering stood out to her.
“Auntie Shirli shared with us: ‘Don’t come together to talk about what’s wrong but what’s strong,’” she said. “That was demonstrated beautifully at the conference. There is so much that is rich and strong.
“I was also impacted by the depth of teaching from Mark Paulson (a local Indigenous leader from the Birrah, Gamilaroi and Bundjalung peoples). He quoted his dad, Reverend Graham Paulson: ‘Christian principles for living must be extracted from the biblical cultural context and actively engaged in an Aboriginal context. Only in this way can Aboriginal Christianity discover its own unique identity and find its unique contribution within the developing Kingdom of God in this country.’ Mark shared this beautifully through his teaching.
“I also loved that each presenter brought a young person with them who they are mentoring.”
Commissioner Miriam Gluyas (in photos on the lefft) attended the second half of the Yakila gathering. Photos: Kathy Hughes
Major Brett Gallagher, Head of Integrated Mission and Resourcing, was attending his first Yakila gathering.
“This is a great community that just gets together and supports each other, which I think is great,” he said.
“I think it’s also important that people like me are here listening to our First Nations personnel. I’m here to learn just how better I can support their ministry and the ministry that is going on across the territory with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and how we can do that best.”
Shirli introduced the events, goals and speakers of each day, and convened the senior leaders’ panel and reflection/question time. Panel guests included Uncle Vince; Major Stuart Glover (Bundjalung man and Assistant Chief Secretary for Business), Major Kim Haworth (Assistant Chief Secretary for Mission), Lieut-Colonel Gregory Morgan (Secretary for Mission) and Adrian Appo (Goreng Goreng man and Salvation Army board member).
Stretch RAP celebrated
Lucy Davis, Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and Projects Manager, now on a 12-month secondment, presented the Stretch RAP ‘deliverables’ and what they mean in terms of actions to be taken, expected results and impact, and personnel responsible. She also led an interactive session on how staff can embed the RAP in their workplaces.
Lucy thanked everyone for their support and friendship over many years, and introduced Auntie Sue Hodges, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Coordinator for ACT/NSW, to those gathered. Sue has been seconded to the role of RAP and Projects Manager during Lucy’s absence.
At the conclusion of Yakila, Lieut-Colonel Gregory Morgan and Tahana Turner, Queensland Divisional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Coordinator, presented the inaugural Banaam Award to three recipients: Colonels Kelvin and Winsome Merrett, newly retired former Victorian Divisional Commander and Chief Secretary respectively, and Shirli Congoo.
The Banaam Award honours individuals who walk with courage, humility and deep respect in the journey with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and The Salvation Army.
“Banaam comes from the Bundjalung language, meaning strong younger brother,” Tahana explained.
“It recognises RESPECT (honouring history, traditions, and the lived experiences of First Nations peoples), RECIPROCITY (fostering balanced, mutual relationships grounded in trust and shared responsibility), and RESPONSIBILITY (working towards a just and equitable society through courageous leadership and meaningful action).
“We thank Kyle Slab, who permitted us to use this word and concept, and extend our congratulations to our friends.”
Lieut-Colonel Morgan said that, although he is excited to see the intentional steps forward that have been made in The Salvation Army Australia’s journey in reconciliation and working together with First Nations People, there is still a lot to do.
“For me, the importance of an event like this and the importance of my engagement is that this is an ongoing journey,” he said.
“The Salvation Army has to be serious about our engagement with First Nations people and about valuing the culture of our land and its people. I don’t want to rest on our laurels and there’s still a long journey ahead for us.
“As a white Australian, I have inherited a lifestyle and a place in society that is denied to so many First Nations people. It’s important for me to understand that, but to recognise the ongoing impact of that and to do all that I can in helping to make positive change.”
The Salvation Army remains committed to transforming individual lives and communities across Australia, with more to come as the RAP deliverables become reality and are further developed. Gatherings like Yakila help build an understanding of the practical and spiritual realities of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to better partner together to see a transformed Australia.
For more Yakila images, click through the slideshow below.
