Shire adopts events calendar for 2022

THE Surf Coast Shire council has made one new entry and four deletions on its list of supported events for next year but is yet to determine what flags it will fly and when.

At their meeting earlier this month, a majority of councillors resolved to support the 2022 Events Calendar, which is three entries shorter than the 13 events on the 2021 calendar.

The shire has categorised its events in 2022 into two levels (down from three), based on their budget and the amount of the shire’s time and resources needed to hold them.

The four Level 1 events, with a budget of $5,000 each, are:

• March 8: International Women’s Day
• May 26-June 3: National Reconciliation Week including National Sorry Day (May 26), a new entry for 2022
• May 16-22: National Volunteer Week
• November: Barwon Month of Action – Prevention of Violence Against Women

The six Level 2 events, with a budget of $2,000 each, are:

• April (dates to be confirmed): National Youth Week
• May 17: IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia), which has been upgraded from the former Level 3 to Level 2
• July 3-10: NAIDOC Week
• October (dates to be confirmed): Seniors’ Festival
• October (dates to be confirmed: Children’s Week
• December 3: International Day of People with a Disability.

“Adding these two events (National Reconciliation Week and National Sorry Day) to our annual calendar is going to offer an opportunity for the community to learn and better understand our Traditional Owners,” shire mayor Libby Stapleton said.

“It will also recognise the past hurt, grief and suffering experienced by First Nations people. It’s one step we can take on our long journey to reconciliation, both at a local and national level.”

Australia Day is no longer on the calendar, consistent with the council’s decision in September not to hold celebratory events on January 26.
The Rip Curl Pro launch and Fire Action Week were also dropped but will still be supported by the council in some form.

Mental Health Awareness Week, a former Level 3 event focused on the shire’s staff, has changed into a wellbeing program across the entire year.

The motion also noted a report would be presented at a future meeting for the council to consider a flag flying schedule.

Of the eight councillors present at the December 14 meeting (Rose Hodge was absent), three – Paul Barker, Adrian Schonfelder and Heather Wellington – voted against the motion.

Cr Paul Barker unsuccessfully proposed changing the calendar to retain Australia Day, keeping IDAHOBIT as a Level 3 event and adding International Men’s Day on November 19.

He said the council removing Australia Day had “heightened division among the community, who largely weren’t consulted on this significant change”.

“In the interest of equality, I think it’s only fair if we’re going to include International Women’s Day that we also include International Men’s Day.”