The following is one of a number of messages of support received from people who were unable to attend the public meeting arranged by the Friends of TMAG in Hobart on 8 October 2026. The message was read to the meeting by FOTMAG President, Jane Wilcox
Rodney is as he puts it, an old Palawa man. He has been involved in the struggle for Palawa rights and recognition for over 50 years. He has worked in senior roles in both State and Federal governments in Aboriginal Affairs. He was one of the leaders in the repatriation of the so-called Crowther collection, and the 1995 return of Aboriginal land including Wybalenna. He was also the inaugural chair of TMAG's Aboriginal consultation group. His major interest in retirement is to promote and advance Treaty and Truth-Telling in Tasmania.
Rodney Gibbins, inaugural chair of TMAG’s Aboriginal consultation group
"Good afternoon everyone. As we have heard today the TMAG is going to be impacted severely by proposed public sector cuts both financially and professionally. This is certainly not in the interest of the Tasmanian community.
Over the years, the Palawa community has had its issues not only with TMAG but Government in its entirety.
There was a reluctance on the part of TMAG to rethink and revamp negative and ill-informed attitudes towards the Palawa community.
These attitudes were long standing. For example, Truganini was buried in the grounds of the former Female Factory in South Hobart only to be dug up two years later by members of the Royal Society and her skeleton placed on display at the TMAG for over 40 years.
There was also the reluctance of the museum to hand over the Crowther Collection of Palawa human remains, consisting of 33 skulls and three skeletons, removed from Putalina to the Palawa community.
That was combined with the hesitation of the TMAG to change the old diorama which was a 3D representation of a family group at camp in front of a stolen Petroglyph from Preminghana. A display that was naïve and inappropriate and didn’t recognise continued Palawa Sovereignty over this land.
However, the winds of change were having an impact on TMAG, new staff and a new professional outlook was having a positive influence on TMAG with new concepts and thoughts.
For example, Pat Sabine, a former director of the TMAG during the 1990s, brought with her a genuine concern about how Palawa were portrayed and represented in the museum. She consistently advocated for the development of a more contemporary and honest portrayal of the Palawa community in Tasmania.
Perhaps for the first time TMAG began to understand and support truth telling relating to Palawa experiences past and present. TMAG gained an insight that made for a more genuine partnership with the community.
These changes have evolved over the years.
New displays were developed, including the much visited and applauded Aboriginal gallery, ningina tunapri. It offered for the first time a comprehensive account of Palawa history and cultural expression.
The Gallery reflects the thoughts and aspirations of that community. The guiding principle of the project was to provide a learning experience, successfully prompting non-Aborigines to rethink their attitudes, actions and the impacts on the Palawa community.
Another exhibition was developed to complement ningina tunapri. This was the Parrawa Parrawa exhibition about the conflict between Palawa and the Colonial invaders. I believe one of the first of these types of exhibitions to be developed anywhere in Australia.
It was a difficult story to tell, one of violence and dispossession. It gave visitors an experience of conflict, particularly from the Palawa perspective, which has been rarely told.
Today the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery should be complimented for the steady progress it has made in its outlook and support for the Palawa Community.
Let’s not forget the day the TMAG and the Royal Society of Tasmania apologised to the Palawa community for past actions that have negatively impacted on it. This is a maturity that is now being reflected across all areas of TMAG.
The representation of Palawa in TMAG is now characterised by respect and engagement, developing a strong consultative relationship with the Palawa community that has led to an equal and respectful partnership, leading the way across government and its institutions.
TMAG with Palawa have achieved some significant outcomes over the years. Which included return of human remains and petroglyphs removed from Palawa cultural sites.
These outcomes mattered because strong leadership and professional integrity with actions matter. TMAG provided the tenets for these to occur. That's something that the whole of government could learn.
Of course, there is always room for further improvements. We must all closely guard the advances that TMAG staff with Palawa have fought so hard to achieve.
We must also remember that these achievements have been echoed right across the broader community to the benefit of all Tasmanians.
These actions/ advances can only happen with new blood and fresh, innovative ideas brought about by a fully resourced and professionally staffed TMAG.
We must stand together to challenge these cuts proposed by the government.
Thank you for listening."
