The Connection

Had lunch with friends today at The Connection, a restaurant and conference venue on the Midland Highway between Shepparton and Mooroopna.  This place is very special to me as, in 1993, I lobbied Local Government for its construction and then, as its Project Manager, saw it through to completion. The site (which was then a municipal tip) was very important to the local indigenous people as it was where they camped after they walked off the Cummeragunja Mission on the Murray River in 1939 in protest of their treatment. So, aware of the history, we used aboriginal employment programs to involve indigenous youth in the development of the site. The outcomes for those young people were extremely satisfying as most went on to full employment. It's a long story, but one of some pride for me. Lunch with our friends was great.