My name is Precilla Boota-Vincent, and I am a proud Githabul woman.
My connection to Githabul Country is not something I simply speak about. It is something I carry with me.
I lived on Country when I was younger, and throughout my life I continued to return with my family. Those visits strengthened my connection to our people, our places and our Culture. Wherever life has taken me, Githabul Country and my mob have always remained close to my heart.
In more recent years, one thing I have not done as often as I should is return to the places of my ancestors. That is something I intend to change. Connection to Country is not something we should take for granted, and for me, returning more often is about strengthening that relationship, listening, remembering and making sure that connection continues through my family and the generations that follow.
I also acknowledge my cultural heritage connections to Gadigal through my paternal grandmother and Wonnarua through my paternal grandfather. Those connections form part of my story, but it is my responsibility as a Githabul woman, and my service to the Githabul Nation, that brings me here today.
Before I am a Director, before I am a professional, I am a family member.
I am a mother of five, a grandmother of three, a sister, an aunty and a niece. I am also an emerging Elder, and I understand that with each stage of life comes greater responsibility: to listen, to learn, to guide, to protect and to make sure the knowledge and values handed to us are carried forward with respect.
I have spent more than 20 years working across Local Aboriginal Land Councils, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and NSW Government, including NSW Treasury and HealthShare NSW.
Over those years, my work has taken me across Aboriginal Land Rights, Native Title, corporate management, strategic planning, asset and property management, workforce development, stakeholder engagement, reconciliation and Reconciliation Action Plan delivery.
I have also undertaken formal qualifications and professional study across Community Services, Social Work, Leadership and Corporate Management, Aboriginal Leadership, Training and Assessment, Policy and Legislation.
Today, I am privileged to serve as an appointed Director of Githabul Nation Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, representing Family Seat 6. I also serve on a number of other Aboriginal boards and governance bodies.
But I do not see these positions simply as titles.
I see them as responsibilities.
A responsibility to listen to our people.
A responsibility to protect Country and Culture.
A responsibility to ask difficult questions when they need to be asked.
And a responsibility to make sure our people are not simply consulted after decisions have been made, but are part of making those decisions from the beginning.
I was taught that serving is not about being served, but rather about serving others. That lesson has stayed with me throughout my life. Leadership, to me, is not about status or position. It is about what we are prepared to give, what we are prepared to carry, and how we use our place to strengthen the people around us.
I believe strong Aboriginal organisations are built through truth, integrity, accountability and self-determination. They are built when we respect those who came before us, support the people standing beside us and create opportunities for those who will come after us.
That is what service means to me.
And when I think about the future of the Githabul Nation, I think about more than organisations, programs or policies.
I think about our families.
I think about our Country.
I think about our children and grandchildren knowing who they are, where they come from and knowing that their voices matter.
For me, serving the Githabul Nation is about honouring the strength of our old people while helping build something strong enough to carry our people forward.
Because our future should not be something that simply happens to us.
It should be something Githabul people shape for ourselves.