Uniting to promote Reconciliation Week
Published on 26 May 2021
National Reconciliation Week will be marked in the Gannawarra on Tuesday, 1 June with Gannawarra Shire Council, Northern District Community Health, Mallee District Aboriginal Services and the Kerang Elders Group uniting to host a morning of events.
Since small beginnings eight years ago, the event has grown to become an annual highlight. Residents will gather at 10am for a flag raising ceremony outside the Kerang Council Chambers in Victoria Street, before walking to the Sir John Gorton Library for a morning of celebrations.
“Held annually between 27 May and 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 Charlie Gillingham said.
“This year’s theme, More than a word. Reconciliation takes action recognises that we all play a role when it comes to Reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.”
The annual Reconciliation Week walk will see participants walk to the Sir John Gorton Library via Wellington, Fitzroy, Scoresby, Nolan and Shadforth streets.
Events occurring at Kerang’s library precinct will begin at 10.40am with a Welcome to Country, Gannawarra Library Service Story Time session, Smoking Ceremony, and a Question and Answer session with local Elders. Entries received during the Reconciliation Week Poster Competition, held within local schools prior to Reconciliation Week, will also be displayed in the Sir John Gorton Library as part of the event.
Northern District Community Health Chief Executive Officer, Mandy Hutchinson said that the children from the local youth program Tyipen Kwe – meaning ‘happy friends’ - are once again looking forward to being involved in the event and sharing culture with the wider community.
“The children are proud of their local Aboriginal culture and will be participating in a Question and Answer session with local Elders as part of the event,” Ms Hutchinson said.
“Supporting the next generation of young Aboriginal children to be culturally strong strengthens the whole community and we look forward to continuing to build Reconciliation through arts, dance, story, language and song at public recognition events, such as Reconciliation Week activities.”
The official event will be followed by morning tea which will include damper made by Mallee District Aboriginal Service and the children involved in Twipen Kwe.
Mallee District Aboriginal Service Health Promotion Worker, Toni Webster said that damper, otherwise known as bush bread or seedcake, is a European term that refers to bread made by Australian Aborigines for many thousands of years.
“Bush bread was made by crushing a variety of native seeds, and sometimes nuts and roots, into a dough and then baking the dough in the coals of a fire,” Ms Webster said.
“While native seeds would be hard to source these days, those attending the Reconciliation event will be able to taste bush bread made in an open fire using as close to an indigenous recipe as we can.”
Further information on the 2021 Reconciliation Week event can be obtained from Council on (03) 5450 9333 or online at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/events