By Tyler Wright
The Emerald Hills Hub will celebrate National Reconciliation Week for the first time since its opening in 2020, holding a range of activities and installations.
National Reconciliation Week takes place from 27 May to 3 June and is a time for Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements with First Nations peoples – this year’s theme being ‘Be Brave. Make Change’.
At the Hills Hub there will be a Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony and music performance including didgeridoo and clap sticks, artwork from local schools to curate an exhibition on reflection on the significance of reconciliation actions an interactive blackboard display for the community to share their reflection, a ‘Sea of Hands’ installation featuring hands in the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags displayed – each one carrying a signature and a citizen’s statement on their commitment to reconciliation – and an Indigenous Australia map for community members to share where and how they connect to Indigenous culture and history.
Cardinia Shire Mayor, Councillor Jeff Springfield said the community can best connect, understand and celebrate National Reconciliation Week by learning and understanding history.
“Learning and understanding what this means to the Indigenous peoples of the country, and trying to understand what our Indigenous nations would like to see from our national and state formalized governments along the lines of recognition and reconciliation,” Cr Springfield said.
“We’re in the final stages of development of our Reconciliation Action Plan. And that’s been done in close consultation with the Wurundjeri Land Council, as well as the Bunurong Land Council which make up the whole of Cardinia between them.”
Cr Springfield also said the whole community has a part to play in reconciliation and recognition all year round.
“How important it is, for all members of the community to play a role in this in understanding and appreciating the First Nations people of our country that have been here whose culture has existed for 60,000 years, and deserves the utmost respect for that.”
The Hills Hub is located at 402 Belgrave-Gembrook Rd, Emerald and you can find more information about National Reconciliation Week at www.nrw.reconciliation.org.au
