The work of Pastor Cec Grant OAM, or Wiradjuri Elder Wongamar, in promoting higher education for Indigenous people will be remembered in the annual public lecture held in his honour Friday 21 March at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (ACC&C) in Canberra.

The lecture, Indigenous nations: universities and faith and culture: the work of Pastor Cec Grant OAM, Wongamar, in higher education will be delivered by Emeritus Charles Sturt University (CSU) Professor Ross Chambers.

Professor Chambers is Chair of the ACC&C Board and was the University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) until his retirement in 2012.

Professor Chambers said, "The lecture is a tribute to Cec for his leadership in developing higher education opportunities for Indigenous communities.

"His approach was based on respect for Indigenous cultures and knowledge, and for higher education, and on the principle of 'learning together' and learning from each other.  

"Cec believed that Wiradjuri culture and heritage, Christianity and modern knowledge and education were mutually reinforcing rather than in tension.  His roles as Wiradjuri Elder and Pastor in Indigenous Christian churches were central to his commitment to a university education." 

The first annual Pastor Cec Grant Memorial Lecture was held in 2008. The lectures are devoted to themes from Wongamar's work, with a particular focus on interactions between Indigenous cultures and spirituality and Christianity.

"At the heart of Cec's work was the concept of nation building or the strengthening of Indigenous nations, especially the Wiradjuri nation, through heritage and language recovery; the development of culturally appropriate leadership; and access to higher education which respected Indigenous cultures and communities," Professor Chambers said.

"He believed only strong nations would provide the leadership needed to 'close the gap' in health, education and justice."

A proud member of the Wiradjuri tribe, Wongamar was born in Condobolin in central western NSW and died aged 71 at Albury in 2005. He was a founding member of The Wiradjuri Christian Development Ministries as well as The Wiradjuri Council of Elders.

The lecture will be preceded by a Gathering and Fellowship from 4.30pm and barbeque from 6pm. A Welcome to Country by Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Agnes Shea will be held ahead of the lecture from 7pm at the ACC&C, 15 Blackall Street, Barton, ACT.