National Reconciliation Week (NRW) will be held from 27 May to 3 June and throughout the week Golden Plains Shire Council will be hosting a series of community events open for community members.
Council presents a special Reconciliation Week event at the Golden Plains Youth Hub on Wednesday 1 June, 4.30pm to 5.30pm. Nikki McKenzie, a proud Aboriginal woman with Wadawarrung Country heritage, will perform an official Welcome to Country, followed by a smoking ceremony. There will also be a didgeridoo performance with Norm Stanley, a proud Aboriginal man with heritage connected to the Kurnai and Wotjabaluk people of Victoria. Young people aged 12 to 25 years are welcome to attend.
Council is also hosting a series of Indigenous Storytelling events, in collaboration with Geelong Regional Libraries. Children and their families are invited to share the stories of ‘Ceremony’ and ‘Somebody’s Land,’ authored by former Australian Rules footballer and Adnyamathanha and Narungga man and community leader, Adam Goodes.
Details of the National Reconciliation Week events are:
- Indigenous Storytelling at Bannockburn Library: Tuesday 31 May, 3pm with Mayor Cr Gavin Gamble at the Bannockburn Library, 25-27 High Street, Bannockburn
- Golden Plains Youth Hub Reconciliation Week Event: Wednesday 1 June, 4:30 to 5:30pm at the Golden Plains Youth Hub, Recreation Precinct, Milton Street, Bannockburn
- Indigenous Storytelling at the Mobile Library:
- Thursday 2 June. Bus stopping at:
- 9 to 10:30am - Meredith, Russell Street (Community Centre)
- 11:45am to 1pm – Rokewood, Ferrers Street (Police Station)
- 2:15 to 3pm – Dereel, Swamp Road (Community Hall)
- 3:30 to 4:30pm – Enfield, Colac-Ballarat Road (Little Hard Hills Hotel)
- Friday 3 June. Bus stopping at:
- 9 to 10am – Haddon, Sago Hill Road (Community House)
- 10:30am to 12pm – Smythesdale, Heales Street (The Well)
- 1:30 to 2:45pm – Linton, Skate Park, Glenelg Highway (opposite Post Office)
- 3:25 to 4pm - Cape Clear, Pitfield-Scarsdale Road (opposite Post Office)
- Thursday 2 June. Bus stopping at:
Golden Plains Shire Mayor Cr Gavin Gamble encouraged the Golden Plains community to get involved in the events taking place during National Reconciliation Week.
“Council’s National Reconciliation Week activities are an excellent opportunity for the Golden Plains community to learn about our shared histories and cultures.”
“Council is committed to reconciliation with its local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and following engagement and approval from Reconciliation Australia, the final Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan will be presented to Council in the coming months.”
This year’s theme is ‘Be Brave. Make Change’ and is a challenge to all Australians – individuals, families, communities, organisations and government – to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians.