Mornington Peninsula pulls pin on community activities in Rosebud, Rye and Dromana
A Survival Day event will go ahead as other Mornington Peninsula celebrations are called off due to the pandemic.
South East
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A Survival Day event planned for the Mornington Peninsula will go ahead despite other
local events being dropped because of Covid.
The Indigenous-led community event Our Survival Day – Reconnection will be held at The Briars, Mount Martha on January 26.
Mornington Peninsula Shire is supporting the ticketed event, which is free for children under 13 years and people identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Others will have to pay $38 for general admission to the “all inclusive, family event” which features live music, cultural workshops and activities.
However, free Australia Day activities will not be held in Rosebud, Rye and Dromana.
A written statement from the shire revealed that Covid-19 had guided its approach” to January 26.
“Last year COVID-19 prompted us to re-imagine our traditional Mornington Park Australia Day event, with the new program of activities and entertainment well-received by locals, visitors and businesses.
“Council has opted for a similar approach this year.”
The council has funded a weekend of music, art activities and family-friendly entertainment organised by the Mornington Chamber of Commerce for Main Street.
The popular retail strip is closed to traffic over summer to allow outdoor dining and to help promote the economic recovery of local food businesses.
The council is also supporting community-led Australia Day events at Mount Eliza, Hastings and Sorrento which will include flag raising ceremonies and community barbecues.
“Our overall approach to Australia Day and the funding of events will be reviewed later this year and a fresh approach to Australia Day is expected to be in place by 2023,” a council statement says.
Mornington Peninsula Mayor Anthony Marsh said Australia Day was a time to celebrate “all that is good about our great country and reflect on the journey we’ve taken to get where we are today”.
“It’s also time to celebrate and honour the Traditional Owners of our land and learn more about our nation’s past so that we can move forward together.”
The council came under fire in late 2021 after a councillor proposed lowering the Aboriginal flag to half mast on January 26.
Cr Sarah Race called for the action to honour “a day or mourning” for First Nation’s people.
The state government recently cancelled Melbourne’s annual Australia Day parade in the CBD, but not specifically due to Covid-19.
The government has denied the cancellation was also due to a growing movement to abandon the national day due to cultural sensitivities.
Councils including Yarra, Darebin and Moreland have stopped celebrating Australia Day in recent years, while Stonnington and Port Phillip plan to only host indigenous themed “mourning” and “healing” ceremonies, along with citizenship ceremonies, in a Covid-safe manner.