Why Armidale Aboriginal Voices Must Lead for Change

In the looming shadow of the 2024 NSW Aboriginal Land Council elections, there emerges a pivotal opportunity—a chance to say goodbye to Councillor Charles Lynch and welcome a new dawn.

It’s not a dismissal of past efforts but an acknowledgment that the winds of change are blowing, and they carry with them the potent potential for transformation.

The tenure of Councillor Lynch, while eventful, has been marked by controversies that have sown seeds of doubt in the minds of many… and in these seeds lie the fertile ground for a new beginning.

Voting for change isn’t simply a ceremonial gesture; it’s an act of reclaiming agency, a statement that Aboriginal people are ready to steer their ship. It is a collective stride towards a horizon that promises more than just survival but thrives.

When the very people who have felt the brunt of socio-economic disparities stand up to be counted, their votes become the architects of a future where no one is left behind.

And what of the concerns that have surfaced under the current council’s watch?

Financial downturns, the first administration of a Local Aboriginal Land Council in nearly two decades, and high-risk entity labels—these are not just numbers on a page or fleeting headlines.

They are the lived realities of communities whose potential has been curtailed by the shackles of mismanagement… and they are the rallying cries for accountability, transparency, and a leadership that doesn’t just promise but delivers.

Letting go of Councillor Lynch’s leadership is not an act born out of animosity but one of necessity.

Because it’s a conscious decision that honors the principle that leadership, in any capacity, should be reflective of the people it serves.

And the Aboriginal voices of Armidale deserve to echo in the chambers where decisions are made, where policies are shaped, and where the future is forged.

As Armidale’s Aboriginal residents prepare to cast their votes, they do so with the knowledge that their decisions have the power to reshape the narrative.

A narrative that doesn’t just settle for what has been but reaches for what could be…

And it’s a chance to redefine leadership—to choose representatives who are not only aware of the challenges but who live them, who breathe them, and who are relentlessly committed to overcoming them.

2021 Census data Armidale Aboriginal mob:

• Median weekly household income: $1,176
• Median monthly mortgage repayments: $1,300
• Employment: half of the Indigenous population aged 15 and over are in the labour force (49.7%), with 14.1% unemployed.
• Educational Attainment: There’s a lower percentage of individuals with a Bachelor Degree level and above in Armidale (6.4%) compared to New South Wales (8.3%) and Australia (7.4%), suggesting challenges in attaining higher education qualifications​​.

Has Charles Lynch made significant contributions to the Aboriginal community in Armidale during his 8 years as Councillor at NSWALC?

So as Armidale stands at this crossroads, the choice becomes clear… it’s time for change.

And it’s time for the community to rally together, to cast their votes not just for a new councillor but for a new chapter—one where their voices are not just heard but are instrumental in composing the future symphony of their country.

It’s time to turn the page, and it’s your hands, your voices, that must write the next chapter.