Wathaurong Co-operative ‘outraged’ by Geelong council’s Aus Day decision

Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative says it is “outraged” by the Geelong council’s decision to recognise January 26 as Australia Day and is calling for a meeting with City Hall.

People gathered outside City Hall ahead of last week’s council meeting.

The Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative has slammed Geelong council over its move that will once again see City Hall recognise January 26 as Australia Day.

The motion, which passed at council’s first full meeting last week, was the first step in a process that would see January 26 officially referred to as Australia Day, citizenship ceremonies returning, and ceasing advocacy to change the date.

In response, the co-operative released a statement on Tuesday which read: “Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative and our community is deeply saddened and outraged by the City of Greater Geelong’s decision to celebrate January 26 as Australia Day without further consultation with our community”.

“Since 1938, First Nations peoples have recognised January 26 as a ‘Day of Mourning’ and have continuously lobbied to change the date,” it said.

“This day serves as a stark reminder of the historical injustices faced by First Nations people, including massacres, cultural dispossession, and the impacts of the Stolen Generations that are still affecting our community today.”

In May 2023, councillors unanimously voted to stop referring to January 26 as Australia Day.

The co-operative said many other councils had followed suit, and they hoped it would mark a new beginning where Indigenous voices would be heard, and everyone could walk together.

“Instead, the council’s recent decision to reinstate January 26 celebrations as Australia Day has caused profound pain and disappointment within our community,” it said.

The co-operative has called for an urgent meeting with council to discuss the issue.

It comes as Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation also urged City Hall to reconsider the “divisive decision”.

Wadawurrung Traditional Owners will host their third deep-listening event accompanying Pilk Purriyn (sunrise) in Torquay on January 26.

The event will continue the first-time testimonies from members of one of seven Wadawurrung Traditional Owner family lines.

The organisers say it will seek to deepen understanding of the sadness, loss and hurt brought by colonisation.

This year will include stories from Wadawurrung Ngarrweet (senior male Elder) Uncle Mel and his family.

Surf Coast Mayor Mike Bodsworth, Wadawurrung Ngarrweet Uncle Mel and Wadawurrung Elder Aunty Mary ahead of the Pilk Purriyn event planned for Torquay on January 26.

Uncle Mel said the people of Wadawurrung Country invited the community to listen to their truth-telling and understand the lasting impacts colonisation had on First Nations people.

“Wadawurrung culture and connection to country extends back into the past, so far back that it is almost incomprehensible,” he said.

“We ask you to koling wada ngitj – walk forward together – with us.”

Surf Coast mayor Mike Bodsworth said the council acknowledged January 26 was a day steeped in sorrow for many First Nations people.

“Through the sharing of hearts, truths and ceremony they give us a profound opportunity to grow our understanding of their culture and the loss and hurt inflicted since colonisation,” he said.

The event will start at 5.30am at Cosy Corner in Torquay.

A recent Geelong Advertiser poll of almost 5000 people found 93 per cent believed local councils should be forced to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26.

Originally published as Wathaurong Co-operative ‘outraged’ by Geelong council’s Aus Day decision