survival day 2014

Australia Day, 2014 saw the seventh running of Survival Day in Belgrave, a celebration of the survival of Indigenous culture. Organisers worked hard to bring the most amazing line up of artists and speakers to both locals and visitors. 

Aunty Dot Peters has supported Belgrave Survival Day
since it's inception, this year she particularly highlighted
Indigenous involvement in the first world war. Aunty Dot
has long fought for recognition of the Indigenous
contribution to the war effort.

I am pleased to be able to support Survival Day both through community ward funding and Yarra Ranges festival funding. It is a great day to celebrate the achievements of our Indigenous community and their great strength to survive.

Uncle Bill Nicholson conducted a smoking ceremony
to welcome everyone to country.

It’s also a good opportunity to report back on the activities of Yarra Ranges Council and our work with the Indigenous community in the past year. 2013 was a busy year in this space, much was achieved and this includes:

• Formalising Council’s first ever Reconciliation Policy, a shared
• The launch of Council’s Reconciliation Framework for Action that outlines our key strategic Reconciliation directions for the next ten years based Indigenous ways of Knowing and Cultural Strengthening, based around the values of respect, caring and sharing.
• Providing support to HICSA regarding governance and organisational sustainability
• The launch of the Sharing Our Stories DVD at the Memorial Hall which is a great video on Wurundjeri culture spanning from ancestors through to contemporary times. Produced in partnership with Eastern Regional Libraries and HICSA

• The installation of interpretive artwork at the Healesville Library, also a partnership with ERL and HICSA.
• Undertaking a process to embed the core Aboriginal cultural values of respect, caring and sharing into the departments of Family, Youth and Children’s Services and Economic and Community Development.

• Establishing a relationship with the Wurundjeri Council to ensure the traditional owner voice influences Yarra Ranges land management practices, engaging the Wurundjeri Green Team to undertake landcare operations and providing key traditional owner content in Council’s Cultural Respect Training Program.
• The completion of the Wurun Family Childcare precinct at Healesville based on a Reconciliation model.
• The exhibition of Local Possum skin cloak launch at the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum.
• Contribution of funding and support to the Coranderrk and Belgrave Survival day events last year.
• Wominjika (Welcome) on gateway signage into Yarra Ranges.

And last but not least on a broader level council signed on as participants of the Racism, it stops with me campaign.

I am very thankful to the volunteers who work tirelessly to bring Survival Day to the hills, it’s a terrific day to celebrate the survival of the world’s longest living culture.

celebrating our reconciliation framework

It was wonderful to celebrate the launch of Yarra Ranges Reconciliation Framework for Action as part of Reconciliation Week activities. 
 

It was terrific to catch up with Aunty Dot Peters who did the
welcome to country.

I am proud to be part of a council that supports an Indigenous Advisory Committee, who have defined Reconciliation as "a pathway to healing the past and moving forward toward a future of respect, caring and sharing with all cultures living in harmony".
 

Me pictured with local artist Safina Stewart, Safina
painted the most beautiful artistic representation
of  Yarra Ranges Reconciliation Framework.

The Yarra Ranges Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC) was first established in 2005 and is central to driving Reconciliation in Yarra Ranges. The IAC and council recognise that strategies to create and strengthen social and economic participation need to underpinned by a strong cultural framework and led by the Indigenous community.

The IAC has been important in emphasising the need to recognise the contemporary culture of Indigenous people, as well as the vast history and heritage of Indigenous culture.

This photo of Safina's work does not do it
justice, the piece is around 1.5mt high, and
details from the piece feature throughout
the Reconciliation Framework.

The Reconciliation Framework for Action is based around four key themes with respect, caring and sharing overarching the document in its entirety.

The four themes; Health, Healing and Spirit, Participation, Service Access and Strengthening Cultural Heritage form the foundation on ongoing work. 
 

As part of the development of the Yarra Ranges Reconciliation Framework for Action, local artist Safina Stewart was commissioned to paint a representation of the framework. Safina did an amazing job translating the brief into a beautiful piece of art. The theme of the tree is strong along with the themes of respect, caring and sharing encompassed in the piece.

It is a wonderful work and it's terrific to see it's addition to the Shire's art collection.

If you'd like to know more about council's Reconciliation Framework for Action click here.  As a next step we'll be working with our partners to develop actions for Year One.

survival day 2013

I've been proud to be able to support Survival
Day since it's inception in 2008.

I was pleased to be able to be part of the 6th Survival Day in Belgrave, an event held to celebrate the survival of indigenous culture.

Yarra Ranges Council is proud to support this event through the festival and events community grants program and also through my community ward fund.

We are also proud to support our indigenous community through the ongoing employment of an Indigenous Community Development Officer and supporting our Indigenous Advisory Committee.




Aunty Dot Peters has long supported Survival Day,

it was terrific to see her make the journey from Healesville

for this year's event.

Our Indigenous Advisory Committee did a review late last year, thinking about our achievements over the past few years. Council has been a leader in this area as far as Local Government goes. Some of the success stories include:

• The Healesville Cultural Strengthening Project and the Choir and HipHop Programs
• The Olinda Creek Weed Control Indigenous Employment Project
• A Youth Forum
• Yarra Ranges first Reconciliation Strategy and Action Plan which is now being updated
• Developing partnerships and relationships with other organisations doing great projects
• Working with state government to provide local knowledge and advocacy on behalf of Yarra Ranges Indigenous community 

Jordan Crook is one of the organisers of Survival
Day, great to see such passion for raising community
awareness of Indigenous issues.

Council’s commitment to the Indigenous communities of Yarra Ranges is on show right now with the draft Reconciliation Policy and Action Plan, its worth a look and we’d be keen to hear your thoughts, click here for more information.

Uncle Bill Nicholson did the Welcome to Country

The Reconciliation Policy and Action Plan policy includes:

• Honouring our Elders and their place in our community
• Continuing to seek the advice of the Indigenous Advisory Committee on key matters
• Consider Indigenous perspectives, values and issues across all aspects of Council’s work to promote access, inclusion and respect
• Taking a leadership role in education processes to enhance our organisation and community understanding a an awareness of Indigenous heritage, as well as the needs of our Indigenous communities
• And encouraging participation and improving access to services, facilities and programs of Indigenous residents, such as health, employment and education.

Uncle Joey started the day with some Didgeridoo

Yarra Ranges Council is active, leading and walking with you on the journey of Reconciliation.

From little things big things have grown. Back in October, 2007 I received an email from local Natalie Walker asking for ward funding to fund a new community event Survival Day. I was pleased to be able to provide the $750 towards the very first Survival Day, 5 Survival Days on, I’m pleased to be able to continue that support today with $2,500 from my community ward fund and a $7,500 community grant from the Yarra Ranges Council. I look forward to the other tiers of government putting in similar contributions into the future.

I congratulate the organising committee, once again you’ve done a terrific job in ensuring that locally we don’t forget our Indigenous history and continue to celebrate Indigenous culture. 

Lady Lash entertained onlookers with some
hip hop

Uncle Joey kicked things off with meditation to the Didge

Aunty Dot demonstrated basket weaving at her workshop

recognising reconciliation

Cr Samantha Dunn and Aunty Dot Peters at
the Yarra Ranges reconciliation lunch, this year
held at the Healesville RSL.

Reconciliation week is an important week in Yarra Ranges.

One of the features of the week is the annual Reconciliation Lunch, this year's lunch themed Recognition Reconciliation.

It was about recognising the advancements that have been made toward reconciliation but by the same token recognising there is still more work to do.

Since 2010 Council’s Indigenous Advisory Com-mittee (IAC) have been involved in activities designed to set a new strategic direction for our work in Reconciliation.

Research conducted by a Swinburne University student is providing a rich background on key areas such as cultural development in the urban context and culturally respectful evaluation.

Since 2006 Yarra Ranges Council has employed an Indigenous Development Officer and established an Indigenous Advisory Committee to assist council in the delivery of its priorities, which include:

• Maintaining an Indigenous voice on Indigenous issues
• Acknowledging and protecting Indigenous cultural heritage
• Engaging Indigenous young people
• Promoting health and wellbeing
• Building stronger relationships and new partnerships with the wider community in order to promote business and employment opportunities.

This year will see council launch our Indigenous Employment Strategy and in collaboration with our Indigenous Advisory Committee, develop a new 3 to 4 year action plan that will focus on opportunities for participation in contemporary cultural activities.

Yarra Ranges has the highest indigenous population of the Eastern metropolitan councils and we take great pride in our indigenous cultural heritage.

samantha in the press - reconciliation

Hard road to reconciliation
Mail Newspapers
by Mara Pattison-Sowden
31 May 2011

lets walk the mile, lets reconcile

It was wonderful to celebrate the start of Reconcilation Week with a luncheon in Healesville. An annual event on the calendar, it's wonderful to catch up with community members and elders.

Pictured left to right: Top Row; Cr Len Cox - Deputy Mayor, Cr Samantha Dunn - Lyster Ward, Garry Detez - Yarra Ranges Indigenous Liaison Officer & Peter Ruzyla - CEO of Each, Bottom Row; Andrew Peters - Lecturer in Indigenous Studies at Swinburne, Aunty Dot Peters, Cr Terry Avery - Mayor and Robyn White - Chair, Yarra Ranges Indigenous Advisory Committee.

Speakers on the day included Aunty Dot Peters, Andrew Peters and Peter Ruzyla (CEO of EACH). All of them compelling, challenging the notion of reconciliation and identity.

Yarra Ranges is proud to acknowledge our indigenous heritage and work positively with our indigenous community in many ways.

aunty dot honoured

It was wonderful to join in the celebration of the twenty amazing women who were added to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women for 2011. I was invited to attend as VLGA president.

The event honours women who have made a difference in their sphere and coincides with International Women's Day celebrations. I was impressed by the diversity of work and advocacy, with women recognised for social justice work, education, health, the arts, multiculturalism, indigenous affairs to name a few.

It was particularly wonderful to see Yarra Ranges local, Aunty Dot Peters, honoured on the night.

Aunty Dot is a respected Aboriginal Elder and has worked tirelessly for many years raising awareness of indigenous issues and strengthening the community.



For over 20 years Aunty Dot has been teaching the art of traditional basket weaving at TAFEs, Museum Victoria, festivals, community organisations and more locally at Burrinja and Belgrave Survival Day.
In 2002 Aunty Dot won the Arts Red Ochre Award, which recognises outstanding contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island arts and culture. She was also awarded with the Victorian Aboriginal Women's Award in the same year, whilst in 2010 she won the National Aborigines and Islanders day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Elders Award.

All of the Victorian Honour Roll for Women recipients are remarkable women, who have given much back to their communities. It was truly an inspiring night.

belgrave survival day 2011

Congratulations to organisers of Belgrave Survival Day, a great way to celebrate the survival of indigenous culture and heritage on Australia Day.

Hundreds of people flocked to Borthwick Park in Belgrave to join in the celebration.

In speaking to the crowd I acknowledged the understanding and relationship indigenous people have with this great land. There is much we could learn from their stewardship and custodianship of the land.

Aunty Dot Peters spoke to the crowd, a Survival Day favourite, her story is compelling.

I talked about the Shire's achievements in the last year which included the development of the Indigenous Protocols document. The protocols are a practical guide to working with the indigenous community in the Shire and provide information on how to communicate in a culturally appropriate way. It is one of the shire's ways of increasing knowledge, and with that greater understanding, of our indigenous community. It's been a busy year as we've also developed an Indigenous Employment Strategy.

Richard J Frankland and the Charcoal Club were teriffic, it was great that Kavisha Mazzella was there performing as well. Kavisha received an OAM as part of the Australia Day Honours, we were privileged for her to share her time with us in Belgrave.

The Shire has been successful in securing funding to see the reestablishment of the Aboriginal Children's Choir and an Indigenous Hip Hop dance program, I look forward to seeing both of these come to fruition.

The Jindi Worobak Dance Troupe provided some great entertainment.

There's also work on artworks at the Meeting Place in Healesville as well as the arts and education garden, Art of Place, at Burrinja.

The crowd couldn't help but get up and dance to Richard J Frankland and the Charcoal Club.

Our focus in the coming year will be on developing cultural strengthening and reconciliation approaches to provide positive health and wellbeing outcomes for Yarra Ranges.

The Shire of Yarra Ranges is committed to reconciliation and we proudly fly the aboriginal flag.

I thanked people for choosing to celebrate Australia Day this way and stressed the importance of keeping indigenous culture and heritage prominent.

This was the fourth running of Belgrave Survival Day and I'd love to see it become an annual calendar event. It was a great day and the organisers did a great job, there is no doubt volunteers are the life blood of our communities.

survival day success

Belgrave was abuzz with people at Survival Day on Australia Day. Survival Day was an idea hatched by a handful of community members back in 2007 who wanted to run a community event that celebrated the survival of indigenous culture and heritage. The event has grown and grown over the 3 years it has been running. At this years event the crowd was bigger than ever with over 1000 people attending, it was also broadcast on 3CR community radio too, which was a fantastic addition to the day.

Aunty Dot Peters gave the official welcome.

Judith Durham OAM and Kutcha Edwards treated the crowd to Judith’s all inclusive version of Advance Australia Fair.

Nigel Wilkes and his dance troupe kept the crowd mesmerised with their dancing.

Uncle Henry Atkinson talked about history, the constitution and the terrible atrocities indigenous people have endured since the arrival of white man. Sparkleland provided entertainment for the kids and the Stray Blacks rounded off the program.

I have been proud to be a supporter of Belgrave Survival day since its inception. As part of the proceedings I spoke about some of the ongoing issues that need to be resolved in order to achieve reconciliation and self determination.

“….the Victorian Constitutional and Human Rights Charter provisions do not yet adequately recognise the prior occupation of Victoria by Victoria’s indigenous Peoples, nor does it recognise their strong cultural and spiritual connection to the land or their rights as owners and custodians of the land.

We have an obligation to recognise self-determination as a right of all Peoples recognised by international law and the UN declaration of rights of indigenous peoples….”

I went on to talk about the shire’s commitment to our indigenous community.

“The Shire of Yarra Ranges has a rich Indigenous history. In partnership with our Indigenous community, the Shire seeks to
- strengthen relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities
- raise awareness of Indigenous history and issues
- reduce Indigenous disadvantage by the provision of culturally appropriate services, and
- promote Reconciliation on an ongoing basis through our Reconciliation Strategy and Action plan….

….The Shire of Yarra Ranges council takes indigenous issues very seriously, we are one of the only municipalities in Victoria who employs a full time indigenous development officer to work with our indigenous community.

We are proud to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land. We are proud to fly the aboriginal flag. We recognise the uniqueness and diversity of our Indigenous community and we are committed to Reconciliation….”

“Indigenous communities in Victoria continue to face intolerable inequities in health, education, employment, the provision of public services and justice. We must focus on grassroots and state-wide solutions that result in local, regional and systemic reconciliation. We must eradicate individual and institutional racism. Only with these measures we can start to address these intolerable inequities and work to true reconciliation and self determination.”

“You have chosen to celebrate your Australia day by coming here committed to reconciliation and self determination and I thank you.”

survival day - belgrave 26 jan

The third annual Belgrave Survival Day is being held at the Cameo Outdoor Cinema on the 26th January. I have been proud to be able support this event since its inception in 2008. This year I was pleased to be able to assist organisers with a grant to secure Judith Durham OAM and Kutcha Edwards and his band to perform on the day.

Survival Day provides the community with an opportunity to celebrate Australia Day by recognising and celebrating the survival of indigenous culture locally and nationally. It is a great celebration of indigenous culture and heritage.

Indigenous elders, Aunty Dot and Uncle Henry will be there as well as Sparkleland children’s entertainer and the Healesville traditional dance troupe, indigenous artists the Stray Blacks will be making an appearance too. Judith Durham OAM will treat Belgrave Survival Day participants to her version of the Australian national anthem at 10:45am.

It is a great day out, I encourage you to come along and bring the family too, don’t forget to bring a hat and sunscreen! I look forward to seeing you there.

Details:
When: Tuesday 26th January, 2010 10am to 3pm
Where: Cameo Outdoor Cinema, Burwood Highway Belgrave (map)
Cost: Gold coin
Access: plenty of parking nearby and close to Belgrave railway station too (Mel Ref 75E10)