Geelong council shelves plans for First Nations events on Australia Day after moving away from citizenship ceremonies
Geelong council will not host any Australia Day events this year after its plans to hold First Nations cultural ceremonies fell flat when traditional owners told City Hall their focus was elsewhere.
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Geelong council will not host any Australia Day events this year after its plans to hold First Nations cultural ceremonies fell flat when traditional owners told City Hall their focus was elsewhere.
Council boss Ali Wastie confirmed that an acknowledgment, recognition and truth-telling ceremony in Johnstone Park would not go ahead, while a flag raising event at City Hall has also been shelved.
Ms Wastie said Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation representatives informed council last week that the Pilk Purriyn truth-telling event in Torquay was their focus.
“The city looks forward to continuing to work closely with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Corporation and our First Nations community to have a Geelong-based event for residents in the future,” Ms Wastie said.
In May last year, Geelong council voted unanimously to shift citizenship ceremonies away from Australia Day and instead deliver formalised First Nations acknowledgment and cultural events.
Pilk Purriyn – meaning sunrise – is a truth-telling event presented by Wadawurrung Corporation in partnership with the Surf Coast Shire.
Held at Cosy Corner, an estimated 2000 people attended last year’s inaugural event.
“Through truth telling, Wadawurrung People will be able to share our history and the story of the world’s oldest living culture,” Aunty Mary Shuttleworth said.
“It is an opportunity to move forward and give others a greater understanding of why we invite them to koling wada ngal – walk alongside to achieve self-determination.”
Surf Coast Mayor Liz Pattison encouraged people to attend the event to respectfully acknowledge “so much loss and hurt” experienced by First Nations people.
“Our community demonstrated a profound wish to participate in deep listening and to be there as allies for First Nations people,” she said.
Australia Day ambassador for the Surf Coast, Peter Yates AM, said councils were “encouraging controversy” by not hosting citizenship ceremonies on January 26.
Senator Sarah Henderson has launched a petition calling for councils to be forced by the federal government to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.
“This divisive activism has no place in our community,” she said.
“What message does this send to new citizens and our children when the federal government is too embarrassed to celebrate Australia Day?”
Geelong council has provided $35,000 funding for the family fun day at Rippleside Park on January 26 but it does not have a role in its operation.
The Festival of Sails and “family ride” element of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race will also take place on Australia Day.
Forming part of the Festival of Sails’ program, a fireworks display will be held at the Geelong waterfront at 9.30pm.
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