General News
28 June, 2023
Moyne hosts NAIDOC Week events
MOYNE Shire Council has begun hosting events as part of NAIDOC Week to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
MOYNE Shire Council has begun hosting events as part of NAIDOC Week to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The 2023 NAIDOC Week theme 'For Our Elders' explores the importance of elders as cultural knowledge holders, trailblazers and advocates.
The free events began on Tuesday this week with council hosting a truth telling and smoking ceremony with local Indigenous elder Brett Clarke, followed by a luncheon showcasing native Indigenous ingredients from Worn Gundidj.
Mr Clarke spoke about the harsh truths of the region’s history of conflict with Indigenous peoples, including known massacres throughout the district.
He also said part of these ceremonies was leaving that past behind, welcoming fellow Australians to Indigenous land as brothers and sisters in an ancient blessing of safe passage and kinship.
Moyne Shire mayor Karen Foster said acknowledging “our history was an important step”.
“When I was going up this wasn’t talked about; the history wasn’t talked about, and any history we had in school was about European history,” she said.
“We’ve got a lot of making up do to because we have around 60,000 years of history to learn about, and I think these ceremonies where we hear from people like Brett about his experiences, hisfamily’s experience, and the stories of other elders, I learn a little bit more and appreciate a little bit more.
“I realise what a rich and extraordinary culture it is, and I think it’s important to acknowledge the dark parts of our history, so these ceremonies are really important for that.
“I’m grateful that Brett spoke so positively, that even though we have that dark history we’re all moving together as a nation; with a shared history to be acknowledged, but an opportunity to move forward unified.”
Mortlake will play host to another event next week when Jordan Gould, an Indigenous author who wrote the best-selling children’s book Wylah the Koorie Warrior, visits.
Mr Gould will host a story time and creative writing workshop at the Mortlake Community Hub from 11am through 12noon on Wednesday, July 5.
The reading will be best suited for children aged 7-12 and their families.
Events will also be held in Port Fairy from 2.30pm at the Reardon Theatre on Monday, July 3, Koroit Theatre from 11am on Friday, July 7 and Tower Hill Cultural Centre from 11am on Saturday, July 8.
“Get out there, learn and soak up the culture wherever you can,” Cr Foster said.
“We get too few opportunities, so NAIDOC Week is a great opportunity to go to different events where we can get tiny glimpses and learn a few more pearls about this extraordinary culture.”
Council’s NAIDOC Week activities are funded through a grant from the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
NAIDOC Week will be officially held from Sunday, July 2 through Sunday, July 9.
