Region embraces NAIDOC week

DECLARING that Queenscliffe always was and always will be Wadawurrung Country, the Borough of Queenscliffe celebrated NAIDOC Week with a Welcome to Country and smoking
ceremony at the Town Hall yesterday (Wednesday, July 6).

Hosted by prominent Wadawurrung woman Corrina Eccles, community members joined borough councillors and staff for the event under this years theme of “Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!”.

“We recognise, respect and celebrate the proud Indigenous heritage of our twin towns, traditionally inhabited by the Bengalat Balug clan of the Wadawurrung tribe, a member of the Kulin nation,” council promotions stated.

Reconciliation efforts with the borough’s Traditional Owners, the Wadawurrung, are reflected in its recent 2022/23 Budget that contained $20,000 of funding for development of its Reconciliation

Action Plan and another $20,000 for the installation of Wadawurrung signage and place names throughout the community.

NAIDOC Week events in the City of Greater Geelong included teaming up with Cultura (formally Diversitat) to introduce culturally and linguistically diverse community members to First Nations culture.

The program included a visit to Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre in Armstrong Creek where children and adults were taken through the native garden to learn about traditional medicines and bush tucker, listen to the didgeridoo and learn about traditional tools.

“Hopefully this initial connection can be the starting point to learning about further early-years services, along with sparking an appreciation for our own nation’s heritage,” Geelong mayor Peter Murrihy said.

“We all know the pandemic of the past two and half years has limited social engagement and now that things are returning to normal it’s important that we help all members of the community to connect.”