Events to mark Eureka milestone

WITH this Sunday marking one-hundred-and-sixty-nine years since the Eureka Rebellion, a wave of events will be taking place to honour the occasion.

The events will be held at the Eureka Centre under the auspice of the City of Ballarat, with entry into the site to be free from today until Sunday.

Held each year on 3 December, Eureka Day marks the anniversary of the battle between colonial military and protesting miners during the 1854 Eureka Stockade uprising.

Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said the anniversary is an important national occasion with especial significance to Ballarat.

“It’s always a good opportunity to remind ourselves of the events that took place here in Ballarat that was such a defining moment in terms of the place for democracy in Australia,” he said.

“We’d like to see the community come out and remember some of the things that are important about the Eureka anniversary.

“It’s that right to a fair go, that everyone has the opportunity to participate.

“There’ll be lots of family activities from craft to facepainting to music. This will be a great, vibrant space.”

The program will begin tonight with the Peter Tobin Oration with writer Thomas Keneally serving as guest speaker.

The main event will take place on Sunday 3 December with a commemorative service at 8am followed by a complimentary breakfast and community day from 10am.

Musician, Paula Maki will be performing at the site’s memorial gardens from 12.30pm with her band Meraki Minds followed by artist Coda Chroma.

Taking part in the Eureka Day program for the first time, Maki said she hopes her involvement encourages a younger crowd to visit the centre.

“I visited the centre a lot during high school but I don’t think it was enough,” she said. “Not enough young people know about this space so I think there needs to be more awareness.

“Hopefully more people my age will come and learn about this place and the history here.”

A panel discussion involving academics from Federation and the Australian National universities on the use of art and museum pieces in civic education will take place at 11am.

That same day, entry into the Eureka Pool will be free from 8am to 7pm with staff acknowledging the start of the outdoor pool season with a pool party.