March 31 2022

A PLACE for dance, culture and conversations has officially been unveiled at Peel High School.

"When I graduated we didn't really have a space where we could come outside and participate in programs, let alone cultural programs," Cr Sutherland said.

It's taken the whole community to get the yarn circle to where it is now, something Cr Sutherland said the school should be proud of.

"We are part of a legacy," he said.

March 27 2022

A LOCAL aged care service with a focus on in-home care has expanded with a new care hub opening on Tamworth's main street.

Whiddon is looking forward to welcoming the community into the dedicated space for its growing service, which officially opened on Friday.

March 18 2022

National 9NEWS

The first Indigenous person to be elected to the Tamworth Regional Council in North West New South Wales says that grassroot community engagement with Aboriginal people is crucial to closing the gap.

“If we want to advocate for national change or state change, then it is important that we toe the line and lead the way from our local government perspective and, and that’s what I’m really passionate to do.”

March 17 2022

Tamworth's first Indigenous councillor has revealed an ambitious plan to unite the local government body and Aboriginal representative organisations, on Close the Gap Day.

Councillor Marc Sutherland told media on Thursday that it was time for Tamworth Regional Council to take a role in closing the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

"The biggest issue regarding Aboriginal people is making sure Aboriginal people's voices are heard," he said.

"Making sure that Aboriginal people are key and central in the decisions on issues that impact them."

January 14 2022

National Indigenous Times

Marc Sutherland, the first Gomeroi person elected to Tamworth Regional Council, is a man with a mission.

He spoke with the National Indigenous Times after new councillor inductions on Wednesday.

“It also means I have the responsibility to keep carrying the flame that was created by our old people.”

JANUARY 6 2022

And, in a first in the council's history, the Welcome to Country was led by Indigenous councillor, Gomeroi man Marc Sutherland, in native language, wearing a traditional cultural fur.

"As a proud Gomeroi man I'd like to acknowledge the country I'm standing on and pay my respects to the Aboriginal people who have cared and always will care for this country," he said.

DECEMBER 10 2021

"We're tapping into motivation, we're tapping into purpose. We're building self-development and we're using culture as the vehicle to do it. That's the knowledge that's been created for thousands of years.”

NOVEMBER 15 2021

"Decision-making in all aspects, but especially local government, should be inclusive and reflective of the diversity that exists in the community," he said.

NOVEMBER 5 2021

THE BALLOT draw results are in for local elections across the New England North West.

In order, candidates were drawn out of a hat on Thursday for the top spots on the ballot.

OCTOBER 18 2021

The only organisation to blame for much of the multi-million dollar youth service in Coledale lying empty, is council itself, he said.

"My initial reaction was that the language that was being used was dangerous in regard to young people. Overall I feel that these younger people need to be supported rather than labelled as criminals."

OCTOBER 6 2021

Since it formed in 2006, the Gomeroi Dance Company has performed more than 500 times in Tamworth and across the country and now “It's time to pass the torch".

JULY 21 2021

"Without investment there can't be change. In communities where we know that there are challenges, the only way to push through that struggle is by supporting community and investing in community”.

JUNE 23 2021

"As Aboriginal people we walk in the footsteps of our ancestors. We try our hardest to do things the way that they've done things and that's why culture's continued, lore has continued. Cultural burns are a huge part of that practice,"

JUNE 1 2021

"Community are asking for change, and community are asking for a greater investment, they're asking for their voices to be heard and it hasn't happened for generations."

MAY 26 2021

In NSW's north east, youth advocate and proud Indigenous leader Marc Sutherland is working to become Tamworth Regional Council's first Aboriginal councillor.

MAY 25 2021

"If you look at the history of decision making, whether it be local government, state government, or federal government, you can see that there hasn't been a large amount of racial diversity or any diversity in general across the decision-making space. We know that having diversity across the decision-making spaces leads to better decisions.”

NOVEMBER 26 2020

"The more we can listen to the voice of young people and take the direction of young people, the better off we'll be as a community moving forward,"

AUGUST 3 2020

"The beauty of having more consultation with community groups means the plan is far more targeted and the accountability for the success of the plan is clearer”.

FEBRUARY 14 2020

"The Gomeroi Culture Academy is a leadership program that supports students in year 9 across the Tamworth region to better understand how to gain self awareness, confidence and build up their cultural identity,"

DECEMBER 2 2019

"We know if we all stand together, we will be able to put the emphasis and focus back on the traditional knowledge culture has in looking after and maintaining country and community. Our stories have given us the blueprint on how country should be looked after."

MARCH 16 2018

Academy director Marc Sutherland said the significance of the logo was much more than just a clever piece of art.

“We need to have the strength and balance both ways this arrow is heading. Unless we acknowledge and build on both of these we aren’t going to be as strong as we can.”

MARCH 15 2018

“We come from a strong culture, a strong people and a strong family. This is about building on those values and turning them into action. It’s about acknowledging we have a strong history, and how we can use this to support each other moving forward.”

JULY 5 2017

THE Gomeroi Dance Company delighted the kids of Milestones Early Learning Centre in Bligh St this afternoon, sharing traditional dance, song and a little language with them.

JUNE 28 2017

“Once we know where we come from and what we stand for, we start to look at where we want to move to. Our aim for this is to be able to recreate our own identity, especially supporting young people to understand that they are in control of who they are,”

NOVEMBER 21 2017

“We want a generation of culturally confident young people in the community, The support and guidance we’ve had in Tamworth from the older Aboriginal community, we’re hoping, now we’re in a position to establish an annual program we can give back support by formalising what’s been done for thousands of years.”

JULY 7 2017

Marc Sutherland said the march down Peel St was a very significant part of the week.

“It’s connected to the legacy which has been left by a lot of our older people, fighting for our rights in equality and making sure our voices are heard, making sure we have a platform in town to share our opinions,”

JUNE 2 2017

GOMEROI man Marc Sutherland says there is still much to be fought for in Aboriginal communities. As the nation commemorates two milestones in Aboriginal rights, with 2017 marking 50 years since the 1967 referendum and 25 years since the Mabo decision, Mr Sutherland said the celebration was also a call to action for struggles still facing Indigenous communities.

“At the moment, in Australia, Aboriginal people have the highest rate of youth suicide,”

JANUARY 27 2017

Indigenous community leader Marc Sutherland said given the large scale protests that happened across the country, he wasn’t surprised to learn about the incident.

“A lot of people are working hard to advocate on behalf of Aboriginal rights, and there is extreme frustration when those efforts are constantly ignored.”

SEPTEMBER 5 2016

"Now we are at a time where my daughter will grow up singing traditional songs, grow up learning her language and she's already learning how to weave.. These things we haven't had the opportunity to share, so being a father and knowing I can support my daughter through this is amazing."

AUGUST 11 2016

A treaty would provide a “real tangible outcomes” and “a level of self-determination”.

Mr Sutherland said the government needs to ask Indigenous communities what they want.

“These conversations are had and the majority of Aboriginal people are left out,” Mr Sutherland said.

APRIL 6 2016

YOUNG people from across the region will have their voice heard at a local youth summit on Friday and will use the opportunity to tackle the big issues that matter to them.

“As facilitators, we have this underlying belief that the knowledge is within the group and young people themselves are the experts of their own experience,”

FEBRUARY 28 2016

Mr Sutherland said The Youthie could play an important role in battling ice in Tamworth and listed one benefit as allowing the children to control the level of support they get.

“Sometimes it is clinical support and sometimes it is just positive mentoring, just a friend in a safe space”.

JULY 18 2015

“What we’re looking for most here in Aboriginal community, especially in Tamworth and across Gomeroi country, is better outcomes and more self-determination, more rights toward Aboriginal land and sites, and getting some power back to ourselves in the community to be able to create a future,”

APRIL 10 2015

Tamworth Regional Council youth services assistant Marc Sutherland said he hoped the plants would inspire a deeper understanding of Aboriginal traditions.

“All of these plants and bushes have a story and a connection and being able to see them triggers those positive thoughts. By getting young people involved in the planting and the caring of the plants, it teaches them about responsibility,”

MARCH 2 2015

A QUARTER-century after the first Clean Up Australia Day, local environmental groups are still doing their part to keep Tamworth beautiful.

“The pleasing thing is we get less and less rubbish every year,”

FEBRUARY 19 2015

TAMWORTH’S multi-million dollar new drop-in centre will open its doors for the first time today, heralding a new era for youth services in the city.

A total of 17 organisations have formed the Tamworth Youth Centre Consortium and committed to working together to deliver services from the $2.5 million facility, the region’s first purpose-built youth centre.

AUGUST 26 2014

“Individually we have our own strengths, but we need to work together to leverage each other’s strengths. We can have a bigger impact than if we were working alone.”

MARCH 10 2014

The former Tamworth Young Citizen of the Year and Peel High school captain said the lack of infrastructure and support from the wider community had forged an “us versus them” attitude in Coledale.

He rejected a suggestion last week by local police commander Clint Pheeney to strip Coledale trouble-makers of their public housing privileges, saying “it would simply inflame the situation”.

JULY 8 2013

“It’s a community event, all the community is welcome. When looking at events like these it’s about coming together and being able to celebrate all the different aspects that make up the community,”

JANUARY 23 2013

THE first corroboree to be held in Tamworth for more than 100 years will be held tomorrow night as a centrepiece of the week-long Tamworth Aboriginal Cultural Showcase.

“Everyone’s pretty excited: the last recorded dance (in Tamworth) was more than 100 years ago,”

DECEMBER 4 2012

The Coledale community and other stakeholders yesterday had their first chance to celebrate and discuss the multi-million dollar NOW project, which aims to increase the availability of affordable housing in Tamworth.

It will also boast a new multi-million dollar regional youth centre and 58 additional blocks of land will be opened to create affordable housing in the area.