Taungurung flag flying

THE Taungurung Sovereign Flag is now flying permanently at the front of the City of Greater Bendigo office in Heathcote.

An official flag-raising ceremony took place in the office forecourt area on Wednesday and included a Taungurung Welcome to Country and a smoking ceremony followed by a morning tea.

Representatives of the Taungurung Land and Waters Counil and the City were present at the event.

Greater Bendigo is located on the traditional lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung and the Taungurung peoples of the Kulin Nation, who are custodians of the land.

“The City is committed to reconciliation and is proud to fly the Taungurung Sovereign Flag in Heathcote on a permanent basis,” said mayor Andrea Metcalf.

“It’s an important step in acknowledging the history of the land and educating residents as we move forward on our reconciliation journey.”

Taungurung Land and Waters Council chair Kaley Nicholson said the sovereign flag is a primary visual representation of the Taungurung Nation that instils pride in Taungurung people.

“Raising this flag outside the offices of council signifies the shared path that we walk together, focused on a brighter future,” she said.

The Taungurung People are the Traditional Owners for the land encompassing the upper reaches of the Goulburn River and its tributaries north of the Great Dividing Range.

Taungurung land extends from the Campaspe River to Kilmore in the west, eastwards to Mount Beauty, through to Benalla in the north and south to the top of the Great Dividing Range.

More information about the Taungurung Land and Waters Council and the Taungurung People is available at taungurung.com.au.