Some celebrate, others mourn as Geelong marks January 26

Barbecues and celebrations ran alongside rallies and “truth-telling” with a stark divide in how our region marked the Australia Day weekend.

The Be Tru 2 Uluru rally in Little Malop St. Picture: Mark Wilson

Geelong’s Australia Day events revealed a distinct divide between pride and pain on Sunday.

While some celebrated the national day with festivities at parks and pubs, others gathered to mark January 26 as a “day of mourning”.

On the Surf Coast, Sunday morning began with the annual sunrise “truth telling” ceremony at Cosy Corner in Torquay.

The “Pilk Purriyn” – as the event is known – is described by organisers as “acknowledging the deep sadness, harm and loss experienced through colonisation” and “the proud survival and resilience of First Nations people, the preservation of a culture which has endured for tens of thousands of years, and the ongoing impacts of January 26 on First Nations people”.

The Pilk Purriyn at Torquay.

The event attracted about 2500 people and included a traditional Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony and songs and dance by Wadawurrung people.

The event, which first ran in 2023, also included performances by First Nations vocalist and storyteller Yirrmal and songs sung in Wadawurrung language by Wadawurrung women.

The Pilk Purriyin gathering at Cosy Corner attracted 2500 people.

Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Greg Robinson said January 26 was not a date to celebrate

and the event hoped for a “reconciled future where there is a unification of our histories and our people and culture are celebrated”.

Surf Coast Mayor Mike Bodsworth said “respectful deep listening” was fundamental in understanding “the deep sadness, loss and dislocation experienced by First Nations people since colonisation of the traditional lands they nurtured for millennia”.

“Their continuing story helps us acknowledge past wrongs and strengthens our resolve for reconciliation and healing.”

In a stark contrast Geelong councillors Eddie Kontelj, Chris Burson and Stretch Kontelj attended an Australia Day celebration at the Lara RSL, complete with Australian flags, live music and a barbecue.

Councillor Eddie Kontelj spoke at the Lara RSL Australia Day celebrations.

During a speech, Eddie Kontelj said it was sad to see so many scared to celebrate Australia Day. “If you have a look around, none of us look the same,” he said.

“We come from all sorts of backgrounds, religions, countries, but we are united in our celebration of who we are and appreciative of where we are, and that’s what today should be about.

“Yet what we do see is quite a number of people wasting their resources and time trying to make today about division.

“It’s not about division and if those people were to put just half the time helping those they feel are marginalised they would got a long way towards being valuable members of our community.”

The statement was met by applause and cheers.

Meanwhile between two and three hundred people attended a “Be Tru 2 Uluru” rally on Little Malop St in Geelong’s CBD, proclaiming January 26 a “day of mourning”.

Most of the crowd wore or carried Aboriginal flags and held signs with slogans including “change the date”, “not a day to celebrate” and “always was, always will be Aboriginal land”.

The Be Tru 2 Uluru rally in the heart of Geelong. Picture: Mark Wilson

The Uluru Statement of the Heart was read, and a number of Indigenous leaders and allies spoke, including Greens Member for Western Victoria Sarah Mansfield.

At the rally, Gunditjmara, Waddawurrung & Arrernte man Jordan Edwards from the First People’s Assembly of Victoria, proclaimed January 26 “a day of mourning” in Geelong.

“This is a very, very hard day for our people, I’m glad we have so many supportive allies,” he said.

“It carries so much weight, but Geelong has a change to lead this county and change the date.

“We can make that change.”

Originally published as Some celebrate, others mourn as Geelong marks January 26