I am Lowana Moore, a proud Wamba Wamba woman and Reserved Seat holder for Wamba Wamba Aboriginal Corporation.

Recent work priorities:

I continue to participate in both the Treaty and Yurpa Committee meetings as we work through the big job of moving from the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria (FPAV) to Gellung Warl. Our focus has been on keeping our community engaged, sharing updates.

A huge milestone came when the Statewide Treaty Bill passed the Lower House on 16 October 2025. Then, on 30 October, I spent the day in Parliament waiting for the Upper House announcement. It was a long day, and when the moment finally came, it was surreal—lots of tears, both joy and sadness, thinking about those who came before us.

On 12 November, we held a member signing event at Birrarung Wilam along the Yarra. It was a small event with our family as witnesses while we signed the Treaty. The day included a beautiful welcome and smoking ceremony by Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Andrew Gardiner.

The final step happened the next morning at Government House, where the Premier of Victoria, Jacinta Allen, along with FPAV Co-Chairs Rueben Berg and Ngara Murray, signed the Treaty. This marked the official beginning of the Treaty era in Victoria.

Engagement activities:

I, along with WWAC Chairperson Nakia Firebrace and Gnerrick Gnerrick Stephanie Charles, met with Andrew Jackomos and Duean White from the Treaty Authority. They walked us through the steps of the Traditional Owner Treaty Journey, which we need to complete before starting negotiations with the State Government.

Insights:

The Corporation committed to continuing our WWAC Roadshow to give our Wamba Wemba community a voice in shaping the future of the Corporation and our Traditional Owner Treaty. As part of this, we held workshops in Deniliquin and Shepparton on 23 and 24 October 2025.

Implementation:

Our focus has been on keeping our community engaged, sharing updates.

Looking ahead:

To celebrate and honour this historic moment, a Cultural Celebration is planned for 12 December at Federation Square—make sure you save the date!

I have also advised the Corporation that we must elect our Reserved Seat Holder to Gellung Warl by 30 April 2026, ready to commence on 1 May 2026. Members elected to Gellung Warl will serve a four-year term and are expected to be full-time. We also need to agree on the process for electing our next representative.

Conclusion:

Finally, a reminder that the Corporation’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday, 23 November, at the Swan Hill Resort, 405 Campbell Street, VIC 3585, starting at 10:00 AM.

I remain actively engaged as a member in both the Treaty and Yurpa Committee meetings helping to shape our strategic direction and uphold the cultural integrity of our Treaty.

The corporation is now well-positioned to undertake Treaty consultations. To ensure accessibility and inclusivity for our Wamba Wamba people, we have taken the consultations on the road. This approach allows Wamba Wamba people to engage more easily and meaningfully in the process.

Consultations commenced on Country in Swan Hill on 22 July, followed by sessions in Bendigo on 23 July and Melbourne on 30 July. Unfortunately, planned consultations in Geelong and Deniliquin were postponed due to sorry business. These sessions will be rescheduled, and we have also received a request to hold a consultation in Shepparton.

A significant milestone was the opening of the North West Treaty Office in Swan Hill on 3 August, which was well attended by local community members. Myself and fellow North West Treaty Members Djarran, Jason, Jacinta, and Melissa were present to support the launch.

The opening ceremony featured a smoking ceremony by Jason Kelly, NW Elected Treaty Member and Vice Chairperson of WWAC, and a Welcome to Country by Aunty Stephanie Charles, Wamba Wamba Gnerick (Elder). Community members are encouraged to visit the office if they are in the area.

The office has also issued a callout for four artists to participate in a competition. Eligible applicants must be either Traditional Owners from the North West region or First Nations people residing in the region.

Following the office opening, the Treaty Committee convened at the Dungarla Centre in Moama for our scheduled meeting.

We are approaching a transformative chapter in our history, the first Statewide Treaty in this country. This unprecedented moment will be honoured with a powerful cultural celebration, a testament to the unyielding strength, resilience, and sovereignty of our people. It marks not just a milestone, but a new horizon for generations to come.

The last few months have been exciting times for both the Wamba Wemba Aboriginal Corporation (INWAC) and the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria (FPAV). continue to participate in our regular Treaty and Yurpa committee meetings as well as the recently created Traditional Owner Working Group.

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Alister Stevie as the Chief Executive Officer of WWAC. Alister brings a wealth of experience in community development, having worked extensively across diverse communities in New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and Australia. Recently, the WWAC Directors and Gnerick Gnericks (meaning heads clansman/clanswoman) convened a planning day on Country to discuss the Corporation’s strategic directions.

Myself and staff from FPAV Declan Kelly and Chris Casey, met with WWAC Management to provide an update on the Statewide Treaty along with general discussion around Traditional Owner Treaty and the Corporations Treaty engagement strategy.

Engagement activities:

Recently I attended the Regional Engagement Forum and Treaty Negotiations held on Dja Dja Wurrung Country, hosted at the Larnangurrak Office. The day commenced with a powerful ceremony at Leanganook Camping Grounds, marking the formal recommencement of Treaty negotiation talks. The Dja Dja Wurrung People extended a warm welcome to Premier Jacinta Allan, FPAV Co-Chairs and members, representatives from the Treaty Authority, and senior officers from the State Government.

Following the ceremony, the Regional Engagement Forum brought together approximately 80 community members who gathered to receive updates since the last Treaty forum. Feedback from attendees affirmed that community voices are being heard and respected, with key negotiation themes including the right to self­ determination, recognition of Aboriginal identity, and the renaming of monuments to reflect cultural significance.

In the afternoon, I joined fellow FPAV North-West members in observing the Treaty negotiations between the State Representatives Negotiation Team and the FPAV Representatives Negotiation Team. The discussions were powerful and underscored the historic significance of this moment as we move closer to negotiating our first-ever Treaty.

In the afternoon, I joined fellow FPAV North-West members in observing the Treaty negotiations between the State Representatives Negotiation Team and the FPAV Representatives Negotiation Team. The discussions were powerful and underscored the historic significance of this moment as we move closer to negotiating our first-ever Treaty.

Looking ahead:

As we approach NAIDOC Week, themed “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy,” I look forward to celebrating with our communities and continuing meaningful conversations about Treaty. We are also excited to welcome the FPAV Council in late July to Wamba Wamba/Wemba Wemba Country for the official opening of the North-West Treaty Office.

Since my last report in September 2024, there have been a number of significant developments and activities. As the WWAC reserved seat holder on the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria, I have actively participated in our committee meetings through the Treaty and Yurpa Committees.

In October 2024, I attended the first Statewide Traditional Owner Treaty Forum with WWAC Gnerrick Gnerricks Hazel Atkinson, Danny Kelly, and Stephanie Charles. The forum aimed to update Traditional Owner (TO) groups on the Treaty process and clarify the differences between Statewide and Traditional Owner Treaties. A panel discussion allowed TOs to ask questions and seek clarification on the roles of the self-determination fund and treaty authority.

In November 2024, I attended the second Statewide ACCO Treaty Forum, building further on the first forum held in August. This was followed by a three-day Treaty Chamber meeting in Shepparton. A significant milestone was achieved with the opening ceremony of Treaty Negotiations held on Wurundjeri country at Darebin Parklands. This event marked the commencement of negotiations for our first ever Statewide Treaty. Mobs from across the State gathered to celebrate through cultural performances. These performances not only showcased our rich heritage but also highlighted our strong culture. The ceremony was attended by the Premier Jacinta Allen, the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins and Governor Margaret Gardiner.

January 2025 saw our first Chamber meeting for the year at the Korin Gamadji Institute in Naarm.

February was a busy month with the Treaty Big Day Out on GunaiKurnai country, the second Statewide Traditional Owner Treaty Forum, and the Statewide Treaty Forum, all held in Naarm. WWAC Gnerrick Gnerrick Hazel Atkinson and Treaty Officer Stacey Hamilton participated in both forums along with myself.

Alongside the Treaty work it has also been a busy period for the WWAC. The WWAC has secured an office in Campbell Street, Swan Hill, which we anticipate opening in April. We have appointed our Treaty Officer, Stacey Hamilton, from funding received from the Self Determination Fund. Additionally, we have employed a Water Officer, Matthew Stewart, and hope to have our Cultural Heritage Officer and a CEO on board by the end of April.

Over the next few months, the WWAC Treaty Officer and I will hold two on-country gatherings and online sessions for Wamba Wamba/Wemba Wemba people to discuss our aspirations and dreams for the future. We will be encouraging all Wamba Wamba/Wemba Wemba peoples regardless of if you are a member of WWAC or not to participate in these important discussions. My aim for 2025 is for WWAC to be Treaty-ready and entered onto the Treaty database ready to negotiate our Treaty with the State Government.

Member update not submitted.

Member update not submitted.

Region: North West
Reserved Seat: Wamba Wemba Aboriginal Corporation

In March 2024, the Wamba Wemba Aboriginal Corporation (WWAC) was successfully voted in by Members of the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria (FPAV) through the additional pathway process for a Reserved Seat.

Following the announcement in March, WWAC had to develop a process to elect our Reserved Seat member and hold a meeting with our members to endorse the process.

The nomination process for the Wamba Wemba Aboriginal Corporation Assembly Seat Member involved a number of steps. The vacancy was announced in late May through our social media platform and notification sent to all members. Interested individuals had to self-nominate and be endorsed by an Elder of their Apical Ancestor Family Group. Applications based on eligibility criteria and qualifications were to be submitted, along with a two minute self-recording.

On June 13th, I was announced as the successful candidate to represent the WWAC and our people, and my inaugural speech was delivered at the FPAV Chamber meeting held in Portland on June 27th.
On the 8th of August, the Wamba Wemba Aboriginal Corporation received further good news with the announcement of our RAP status. This status was granted by the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council (VAHC) for part of our application area. The RAP status formally recognises the Wamba Wemba people as the Traditional Owners of our lands and waters under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2016. I would like to acknowledge the decades of advocacy by our Gnerrick Gnerricks (meaning head clansman/clanswoman) for recognition as Traditional Owners. This achievement is a significant milestone for our Wamba Wemba community, even though it is a partially approved RAP, and there is still more work to be done, we must celebrate every win along the way and acknowledge the ongoing journey towards full recognition.

Recently the WWAC held its Annual General Meeting on Country, and I am pleased to welcome Nakia Firebrace, Lisa Rose Thorpe and Jason Kelly onto the WWAC Board of Directors. I would like to thank our outgoing Directors Bobby Wise-Moore and Melissa Peters for their valuable insights and contribution to the Corporation. Myself, Bobby Nicholls, Jennifer Mason and Jessica McDonald will remain until our next AGM.

The WWAC were successful in our application for the Self Determination Fund. The fund will allow us to employ a Treaty Officer and hold a number of gatherings both on Country and online for our people to discuss our future economic, social and cultural development, this is in line with our inherent right to self determination which is affirmed in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). I look forward to seeing everyone at the gatherings and online as we commence to lay the foundations to becoming Treaty ready.

The WWAC Gnerrick Gnerricks and Directors look forward to hosting the FPAV Cultural Day on Country before the commencement of our September Chamber meeting. A lot of planning has gone into the day and I’m sure it will be a success.