{"id":179014,"date":"2026-01-22T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/?p=179014"},"modified":"2026-01-21T21:29:57","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T10:29:57","slug":"truth-telling-sunrise-to-mark-january-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/news\/truth-telling-sunrise-to-mark-january-26\/","title":{"rendered":"Truth-telling sunrise to mark January 26"},"content":{"rendered":"

AS DAWN breaks on January 26, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners will once again welcome the community to Warri Dja (Sea Country) for Pilk Purriyn, a sunrise truth-telling gathering at Cosy Corner in Torquay.<\/p>\n

Now in its fourth year, the event will begin at 5.30am and bring people together for deep listening, reflection and cultural connection at first light.<\/p>\n

Pilk Purriyn means “sunrise” in Wadawurrung language, with the gathering held at dawn to reflect a growing movement toward understanding, recognition and healing between First Nations people and the wider community.<\/p>\n

The event is led by the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (WTOAC) and will include a Welcome to Country, Smoking and dance ceremonies, as well as singing.<\/p>\n

\"\"
People of all ages and backgrounds are invited to attend this year’s truth-telling event and gather in quiet, compassionate reflection. Photo: SUPPLIED<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wadawurrung woman and WTOAC Wurru (language) officer, Talia Hart, said language would be a powerful focus of this year’s gathering.<\/p>\n

“This year for our Pilk Purriyn gathering, I am honoured to be sharing ceremonial and contemporary songs in my Ancestors language, my language,” she said.<\/p>\n

“We as Wadawurrung people are intrinsically intertwined to our surroundings and each other through language.<\/p>\n

“Wadawurrung language is the language of this place, the language that belongs here. Country and language are inseparable from one another; they are in reflection of and for one another.”<\/p>\n

People of all ages and backgrounds are invited to attend this year’s truth-telling event and gather in quiet, compassionate reflection.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The event is led by the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (WTOAC) and will include a Welcome to Country, Smoking and dance ceremonies, as well as singing. Photos: SUPPLIED<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

The free event is supported by the Surf Coast Shire and the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority.<\/p>\n

Surf Coast Shire mayor Libby Stapleton said Pilk Purriyn continued to resonate strongly across the region.<\/p>\n

“We can all play a part in recognising truths and past wrongs and seeking understanding and healing.<\/p>\n

“We thank Wadawurrung Traditional Owners and other First Nations people for sharing Pilk Purriyn with our wider community and the many visitors to our region each year.<\/p>\n

“It is such an affecting, beautiful, hopeful event.<\/p>\n

“We have much to learn, but their strength helps us to walk alongside them on long and meaningful journeys towards reconciliation.”<\/p>\n

For more information, head to surfcoast.vic.gov.au\/PilkPurriyn<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

AS DAWN breaks on January 26, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners will once again welcome the community to Warri Dja (Sea Country) for Pilk Purriyn, a sunrise truth-telling gathering at Cosy Corner in Torquay. Now in its fourth year, the event will begin at 5.30am and bring people together for deep listening, reflection and cultural connection at […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":216,"featured_media":179019,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-179014","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTruth-telling sunrise to mark January 26 - Surf Coast Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Pilk Purriyn sunrise gathering at Torquay welcomes community on January 26 for truth-telling, reflection and Wadawurrung ceremony.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/news\/truth-telling-sunrise-to-mark-january-26\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Truth-telling sunrise to mark January 26 - 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