GEGAC’s Board of Directors thanks all community members who attended the open meeting with us on Monday.
We appreciate those who came with the positive intention to contribute to the conversations that help GEGAC move forward.
However, we must address the unacceptable behaviour displayed by a small number of community members at the meeting.
Their actions and language made the meeting unsafe and culturally inappropriate, especially in front of our children and Elders, and in the new Elders’ safe space.
Talking or yelling over people, swearing, making rude and aggressive comments, and not showing common courtesy or decency to others, is not acceptable behaviour in a public setting such as a community meeting.
Thankfully, the vast majority of people in our community understand this.
But, unfortunately it needs repeating here – this kind of behaviour is not acceptable.
Not only did this small group of people make others in the room feel unsafe and disrespected, their disruptions also prevented the Board from being able to answer the thoughtful and constructive questions that other community members had taken the time to submit.
(We will aim to provide answers to those questions in the near future.)
GEGAC is a child-safe organisation, a place of safety for survivors of family violence, a place of healing, and a place where all people in our community should feel comfortable and welcome.
We cannot tolerate such behaviour at GEGAC.
We ask the community to stand together and call out inappropriate and culturally unsafe behaviour where you see it.
We must work together to keep our gatherings respectful and culturally safe.
Thank you again to those community members willing to make positive contributions to GEGAC and this community.
GEGAC Board of Directors
Friday, 30 August, 2024.
