Elsie Lange
When new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made his victory speech on Saturday night, some of the first words he spoke were: “I commit the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full”.
That powerful sentiment of acknowledgement and action is apt leading up to Reconciliation Week, which gives non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people opportunities to engage with First Nations cultures across the continent.
There are a number of council events happening across Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges to commemorate the week, running from May 27 to June 3 each year.
In Sunbury, two 45 minute Reconciliation Week story times will take place at the library on Monday, May 30 at 11am and Thursday, June 2 at 10am.
Also at the Sunbury Library will be a discussion with Yorta Yorta artist and designer Mandi Barton on Thursday, June 2, 6.30pm.
On Wednesday, June 1 at 3.30pm, the Sunbury Youth Centre will host traditional Aboriginal games, exploring First Nations history and fostering conversations around reconciliation for people aged 12-18 years old.
In the Macedon Ranges, the week will begin with a community talk titled ‘Truth-telling and reconciliation’ at Kyneton Town Hall on Tuesday, May 31 at 7pm. Guest speakers include Yoorrook Justice Commission assistant director Brent Ryan and Reconciliation Victoria chief executive Nicole Findlay.
A question and answer session and light refreshments will follow.
Then on Tuesday, June 7, 7pm to 9pm, there will be a community round table event titled ‘Reconciliation Action in our Community’ at Woodend Community Centre.
The event will include an interactive discussion with community members who are keen on being involved in reconciliation action locally, a Dja Dja Wurrung Welcome to Country and cultural education talk.
Guest speakers include Macedon Ranges mayor Jennifer Anderson, Castlemaine Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation’s Vic Say and Taungurung man Dennis Batty, a member of council’s Reconciliation Action Plan implementation committee.
Cr Anderson said it was “extremely important” to create a future where traditional owner and custodian histories, cultures and rights are “respected, learned from and celebrated”.
“Council has recently completed our Reconciliation Action Plan which is a positive step towards recognising and strengthening relationships with Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples in our region,” Cr Anderson said.
Sunbury details: www.hume.vic.gov.au/Residents/Things-to-See-and-Do/Latest-News/Media-Releases/Reconciliation-Week-2022.
Macedon Ranges details: www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/See-Do/Events/Reconciliation-Week.
