Reconciliation Week in Geelong

HUNDREDS of people from across Greater Geelong gathered at Johnstone Park while Indigenous artwork lit up City Hall to mark Reconciliation Week in the region.

National Reconcilation Week events across Geelong followed this year’s theme of ‘Be Brave. Make Change’, encouraging all Australian individuals, families, communities, organisations and government to work on reconciliation for the benefit of our all Australians.

Reconciliation in the Park, which is now in its 13th year, featured markets stalls, live music and a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony.

Event organiser Nikki McKenzie from Geelong One Fire was thrilled with how the event played out with crowds flocking to the event to show their support.

“We had an amazing turnout for the event last weekend with plenty of people dropping through the event to buy from the jewellery and clothing market stalls, as well listen to our Indigenous musicians including Ngara McEwan, Norm Stanley and many more.

“It was amazing to shed a light on this year’s theme and encourage and challenge everyone to be brave and make change towards reconciliation going forward.”

Geelong One Fire Reconciliation Group member Vikki Grosser also added that the day was a massive honour to be apart of, where real change is being made towards reconciliation through learning and supporting our communities.

According to event organisers, the event had an amazing response and acceptance, with the goal set to make the event even bigger and better next year.

Many other significant events have taken place across Geelong during Reconciliation Week including artwork being projected onto Geelong’s City Hall and the Barwon Water forecourt as part of the city’s National Reconciliation Week celebrations.

Artworks were completed by artists living in Barwon, Marngoneet and Karreenga correctional facilities, along with in-community artists with connections to Wadawurrung Country.

The exhibition hopes to draw attention to the high rates of First Nations people incarcerated in Australia.

First Nations people make up three per cent of Australia’s total population, however represent 30 per cent of the current national prison population.

The project is a partnership between City of Greater Geelong, projection artist Matt Bonner, and the Torch program, which supports First Nations artists currently imprisoned or recently released from prison in Victoria.

Torch Art manager Sarah Barrow said artworks in the exhibition could be purchased online, with 100 per cent of the artwork price going directly to the artist.”

The projections are a fantastic way for people across Greater Geelong to connect with The Torch and understand how we’re trying to create change by helping artists to build their confidence and artistic expression,” Ms Barrow said.

The exhibition will be on display until this afternoon.

The city also installed 50 banners across the region to raise awareness of National Reconciliation Week.

A video featuring councillor Jim Mason and Julie Saylor-Briggs, the city’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy officer, was also released about National Sorry Day and the legacy of the Stolen Generations in Greater Geelong and Wadawurrung Country more broadly.

National Reconciliation Week is presented in Geelong by Wadawurrung Corporation, Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative, The Torch, Reconciliation in the Park and Barwon Water.