In this together for Reconciliation Week

Published on 26 May 2020

Gannawarra Shire Council will join communities across Australia from tomorrow to mark National Reconciliation Week.

Council, Northern District Community Health, Mallee District Aboriginal Services and the Kerang Elders Group will support a number of events planned between Wednesday, 27 May and Wednesday, 3 June.

“National Reconciliation Week commemorates two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum that gave Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders the right to vote, and the 1992 High Court Mabo Native Title decision,” Mayor Lorraine Learmonth said.

“This year’s theme is In this together, which is resonating in many ways as communities cope during the Coronavirus pandemic.

“This year’s celebrations also mark the 20^th anniversary since thousands of Australians came together in 2000 to walk on bridges and roads across the nation and show their support for a more reconciled Australia.”

Although physical celebrations cannot occur this year due to Coronavirus-related social distancing measures, a number of initiatives are planned online. These include:

• The development of two 30-minute Storytime sessions featuring Uncle Ron Murray and Sarah James of Kinja, which can be viewed online at www.facebook.com/gannawarra from Friday, 29 May;
• The Central Victoria Indigenous Film Festival, occurring between 27 May and 3 June online. Information is available at www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/cviff; and
• Reconciliation Australia-supported events, including the National Reconciliation Week launch on Wednesday, 27 May at 12 noon. Details are available at www.reconciliation.org.au/national-reconciliation-week/

“During the past few years the National Reconciliation Week Walk and Talk event in Kerang has grown, and although we cannot mark this milestone physically, all partners look forward to community events to mark Reconciliation Week resuming again in 2021,” Mayor Learmonth said.

“In the meantime I encourage residents to join in the online events and share in a journey towards reconciliation with all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who proudly call Gannawarra home.”