To the Elders of the Wurundjeri People

The Leaders of the Combined Churches of the Yarra Valley along the Warburton trial, on the occasion of the second annual National Day of Thanksgiving on the 14th of May, bring you this greeting. 
We want to thank you and your people for the way you have been the faithful guardians of this country for many centuries.
We want to thank you for the way in which you accepted people from other lands among you with trust and goodwill.
We are sorry that many of our forefathers abused that trust and did not offer you the same goodwill.
We suspect that some of the early Christian Leaders were overzealous and forceful with 
regard to Christianity being adopted by your people. But we are glad that many Christians were staunch friends and allies of your people when you went though difficult times.
We wish to encourage you in your endeavors both to retain and regain many of your cultural ways and to find again that bond with this country with which you so deeply identify.
We trust that you will accept our continuing desire to assist wherever we can to advocate for the best quality of life for you and your children, as all Australians equally deserve.
We pray that your people will know the blessings of the Great Creator God both now and in the future.
May He sustain you, give you peace and inspire your hearts.



Graeme Dawson
Co-ordinator
For and on behalf of the above Church Leaders
May 2005

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