My ancestors arrived in Australia, uninvited, from Scotland, Ireland, India, Fiji, and England only a few hundred years ago. They faced immense struggles, including displacement, hardship, and the burden of colonial history. While they carried with them their own traumas and the complexities of their past, they also brought with them stories of resilience and survival. I acknowledge the difficulties they endured and how these struggles have shaped my journey. I strive to be mindful of their experiences and the legacy they left behind, while also recognising the ongoing impacts of their actions on this land, culture and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this country.

I acknowledge and pay my respects to the Djabugay people, the Bama—Rainforest Aboriginal people, whose country held, comforted, and sustained me during my early years in Ngunbay (Kuranda). Growing up in that part of the world is one of the greatest privileges of my life. I also acknowledge and pay my respects to the Turrbal and Jagera peoples, whose lands I am living and working on today in Meanjin.

Honouring the rich cultures and resilience of Indigenous peoples, while reflecting on the complexities of my own ancestors' histories, is essential to understanding the shared human experience. I am deeply grateful to the Djabugay, Turrbal, and Jagera peoples for the privilege of being connected to their lands, and I carry this respect with me in my work and life.

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