Congratulations Professor Anya Reading!
RST Apology to Tasmanian Aboriginal people 2021.
RST Apology to Tasmanian Aboriginal people 2021.
In Tasmania, with its high proportion of rugged
terrain, it is easy to forget that high mountain environments
are poorly represented in Australia. If we define such
environments generally as the sub-alpine and alpine areas
(i.e. areas above climatic treeline and extending for 1000
to 1500 ft below it) we account for some 2500 sq m. (6480
sq km) of Tasmania and about 2000 sq m. (5180 sq km) of
mainland Australia (Fig. 1). The Central Plateau, and the
Snowy Mountains in N.S.W., are the two most extensive areas.
The Tasmanian high country represents about 10% of the State
but the mainland areas in New South Wales (including the
A.C.T.) and Victoria comprise only about 0.07% of the
mainland. The Tasmanian and mainland areas together
comprise approximately 0.15% of Australia. Clearly,
Tasmania has a custodian responsibility for Australia as a
whole, as well as a large personal stake in its high country.
Published Papers
The Royal Society of Tasmania acknowledges, with deep respect, the traditional owners of this land, and the ongoing custodianship of the Aboriginal people of Tasmania. The Society pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that Tasmanian Aboriginal Peoples have survived severe and unjust impacts resulting from invasion and dispossession of their Country. As an institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, the Royal Society of Tasmania recognises Aboriginal cultural knowledge and practices and seeks to respect and honour these traditions and the deep understanding they represent.
On 15 February 2021, the Royal Society of Tasmania offered a formal Apology to the Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
