Join our community celebrations to mark National Reconciliation Week

Published on 30 May 2019

Join us in celebrating National Reconciliation Week with an Elders Morning Tea and Community Barbecue in the Langtree Mall this Friday 31 May.

National Reconciliation Week runs from Monday 27 May until Monday 3 June and is bookended by two significant events in our country’s reconciliation journey - the anniversary of the successful 1967 referendum (27 May) and the historic Mabo decision in 1992 (3 June).

To mark these pivotal points in our history, and the role they’ve played as we strive for Reconciliation, Council is inviting the community to two special events in our city centre this Friday.

The Elders Morning Tea starts at 10.30am and is a chance for the community to speak to some of our region’s Aboriginal Elders in a bid to gain a better understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture from these highly-respected community leaders.

The free Community Barbecue meanwhile will start at midday and run through until 2pm.

Councillor for Community Development and Gender Equality Helen Healy encouraged the community to embrace Reconciliation Week by attending the two events.

“Reconciliation Week is a time to celebrate and build on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians,” Cr Healy said.

“It’s a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and explore how each of us can join the national reconciliation effort.

“National Reconciliation Week is particularly relevant in our municipality given the rich Aboriginal history that lies at the heart of our region’s natural heritage.”

The theme for this year’s event is Ground in Truth Walk Together with Courage.

The 1967 referendum, Australia’s most successful, saw more than 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Commonwealth the power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and recognise them in the national census.

The High Court of Australia’s Mabo decision meanwhile legally recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a special relationship to the land, a relationship that existed before colonisation and still exists today. It was a decision that paved the way for Native Title.

Media enquiries  Ben Piscioneri p) (03) 5018 8689  e) [email protected]