Free event and diary date: Healing in the Hills
Aboriginal Elder Murrundindi joined storm-affected locals at Kalorama Oval last July to perform a Healing Ceremony, recognising the trauma experienced by the forested environment and the people of the Hills. A year later, the Hills Creative Alliance has been funded by Yarra Ranges Council to create a day of free activities and free catering on Sunday 17 July, for local people to join together and make this an annual event in the Hills.
Starting at noon, there will be a range of free activities and music, with a petting zoo and face painting, as well as opportunities to meet people from the services that supported the Hills communities after the storm. Kawarra Gardens will be open, with guided walks supported by the Friends of Karwarra Garden, and the Reflections of the Storm Community Art Exhibition will also be open. This will be a chance for people to meet the artists and perhaps have a go themselves. The Community Art exhibition is proving very popular and is currently open in Karwarra Australian Plant Garden on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4pm each week.
During the afternoon the Djirri Djirri Dancers will hold a workshop to introduce Aboriginal dance, with opportunities to join in and then Aboriginal Elder Murrundindi will reflect of the time of healing with a Smoking Ceremony.
The Kalorama Collective has teamed up with the Hills Creative Alliance, as well as other local organisations.
“It really will be a joint community effort, bringing new groups working together in the Hills, as well as those groups that are more established,” Hills Creative Alliance secretary Liz Millman said.
Olinda Community House has also been supporting another of the Hills Creative Alliance initiative, running Community Focus Friday sessions from 10.30am – noon every Friday with a warm welcome, a cuppa and cake. These are opportunities for the community to get together are now well supported. This Friday 8 July, David Younger, a disaster recovery psychologist who has worked with communities impacted by natural disasters will join the session – he was unable to make the previous date arranged. Recognising that one year on, around 200 families are still either living in badly damaged homes, awaiting repairs to be completed, or living in rental accomodation while their homes are rebuilt or repaired, David will share advice and explore strategies about how we can best look after our neighbours, family, friends and the community in these challenging times.
For more information contact Liz Millman, secretary Hills Creative Alliance 0412 970 050
