Indigenous studies Professor Andrew Gunstone to discuss Reconciliation post-referendum in Torquay

A professor who was booed at an Australia Day event in Anglesea has been invited to return to the Surf Coast by a group looking to show some locals aren’t hecklers. TAKE OUR POLL

Professor Andrew Gunstone and Uncle Charles Pakana. Picture: Supplied

A professor of Indigenous studies who was heckled off stage at an Australia Day event in Anglesea will return to the Surf Coast to speak on Saturday.

Professor Andrew Gunstone, who is the co-chair of Reconciliation Victoria, was invited to speak on Saturday about reconciliation after the Voice referendum.

On January 26 Professor Gunstone spoke at a Lions Club event and left with a “heavy heart” after he was told to “shut up”, “f--- off” and “piss off” after he used the word “invasion” in his speech.

He was also ushered off stage and told he could not continue his speech, and as he walked off stage, people continued to boo and heckle him.

On Saturday, Professor Gunstone will be having a conversion with Uncle Charles Pakana, a journalist at Victorian Aboriginal News, and will be discussing his experience on January 26 this year, as well as what has happened since.

“The main part of the evening will be focusing on broader issues about what happened in the referendum and what is happening now with reconciliation,” Prof Gunstone said.

“A lot of people in the country are interested to know what we’re doing now for reconciliation post the referendum.

“People are very curious as to what we need to do now so I’ll be talking about moving forward and how those within the reconciliation movement can best continue in an environment that is not as supportive as it was,” he said.

Jennie Deneefe, a member of reconciliation group Geelong One Fire, said she and others reached out to Prof Gunstone after the January 26 event in Anglesea because she wanted to show that not all people in the region were hecklers.

“We offered to organise an event where he can express and discuss with people who want to hear his truth telling,” Ms Deneefe said.

Prof Gunstone said he was happy to have a discussion with people who disagreed with his views, but said there needed to be a respectful dialogue.

“I’ll certainly be talking about truth telling in this country, the importance of knowing what our history is,” he said.

“What I’m hoping for on Saturday is rational discussion.

“I’m expecting people to have some discussions and I welcome those talks, but it needs to be in a respectful dialogue, not like in that harsh environment that we had on January 26, which was disappointing.”

Originally published as Indigenous studies Professor Andrew Gunstone to discuss Reconciliation post-referendum in Torquay