Eden author John Blay has used the launch of his book on the Bundian Way to call on people to re-think what it means to be Australian.
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Speaking to more than 200 people at the launch of On Track: Searching Out The Bundian Way at Jigamy on Saturday afternoon, Blay condemned the booing of indigenous sportsman and 2014 Australian of the Year Adam Goodes.
"Today, I feel great solidarity with Adam Goodes," Blay said.
"I don’t know why so many thousands started booing him, it doesn’t seem to me to be purely racist because many if not most in that booing crowd would support him as a worthy man to be Australian of the Year and as a great footballer and Aboriginal.
"Do those multitudes know why they’re booing him?
"I can only think it started as a joke or a mass hysteria but it has very suddenly become very ugly.
"My suggestion is that the time has come to rethink what it means to be Australian, to find better ways to go ahead together, all of us as one, whatever our football code, political persuasion or creed," Blay said.
In a week that has seen a nationwide outpouring of support for Goodes, sectors of the Eden community have joined the Racism. It Stops With Me campaign.
CEO Twofold Aboriginal Corporation CEO, Chris Bird, said that having won two Brownlow medals and being a former Australian of the Year, it was difficult to argue that the taunting of Goodes did not have a serious racist undertone.
"Why does a proud display of Aboriginal culture create such anger in certain sectors of the community?," Mr Bird said.
"It is fantastic, however, to see the amazing show of support for Adam’s stand from all walks of life over the past week or so.
"It certainly shows that the aggression being shown is from a noisy few and not the majority.
Let’s hope that events like this provoke thought and appreciation for Aboriginal culture, not anger and discrimination.
"I stand with Adam," he said.
But Aboriginal Elder, Pastor Ossie Cruse, said too much attention had been paid to the booing.
"Those people are a gross minority in this country and Adam could have done more to nip this in the bud rather than let it become a big national issue," Uncle Ossie said.
"The rascists amongst us don't deserve this attention.
"It's started a 'them and us' way of thinking that can dig deep into this country.
"The issue has run its course, and we need to see those in the crowd for what they are: nothings.
"And we need to return the sport with the right spirit of the game, and shake one another's hand," he said.
Coach of the first grade Eden Eagles rugby league team, Michael Wykes, said racism should not be a part of any sport.
"It’s shocking how it has all unfolded over the past two weeks," Wykes said.
"We’ve got a lot of koori players in the Eden Eagles, with the reserve team predominantly koori from all over the district.
"Thankfully, I’ve never heard of any of them having their sporting careers affected by racism, and I haven’t seen it happening in my work as coach in Eden," he said.
Peter Russell, captain and president of the Eden Whalers AFL football team, said he encouraged everyone to get involved in sport, regardless of their race or skin colour.
"The current team is talking about what’s happened to Adam Goodes and there are mixed opinions, but the consensus is that he’s a great player and they don’t want this to force him to retire," Russell said.
"That would be racism winning," he said.
Bega Valley Shire Council general manager, Leanne Barnes, said she was proud to say that intolerance was rare in the shire, and that pride, connectedness and optimism for a shared future was "the norm".
Eden Marine High School principal, Ian Moorehead, said the school had an anti-racism contact officer, and if an allegation occurred it was dealt with appropriately.
"In relation to issues like racism, it comes back to our school values - ‘Respect, Responsibility and Resilience' - and what we as a school promote as a foundation in not only our school but our wider community," he said.