Shire’s strong partnership with Indigenous community on display

Jaara elder Uncle Rick Nelson said the council’s strong work with local Aboriginal groups had resulted in a really supportive community.

“Over the last 15 years we have seen the community do a 180 and become really supportive to  Aborginal causes and the Dja Dja Warrung (people),” he said. “This shire is leading the way, particularly in country Victoria.”

The relations between council and local Aboriginal people is underscored by an Indigenous Roundtable chaired by Uncle Rick and Mount Alexander Shire mayor Bronwen Machin.

“(The roundtable) helps us do a lot of support work with Indigenous groups as they ask for and need it,” Cr Machin said.

Castlemaine’s Australia Day celebrations will see Uncle Rick and the local Aboriginal community take part in a Welcome to Country ahead of the rest of the official ceremony.

Uncle Rick will also personally welcome each new Australian citizen after the citizenship ceremony.

“I welcome new citizens with an Aboriginal welcome ceremony as they get their (certificate) and step from the stage,” he said. “They step forward as an Australian citizen and we welcome them.

“We also have stalls and stuff to show people information about Victorian tribal groups and language area.”

Cr Machin said it was important to all communities to acknowledge the simultaneous truths of Australia Day.

“It is two truths held uncomfortably together,” she said. “For non-Indigenous people it is more about celebration but for a lot of Indigenous (and non-Indigenous) people it is more about sadness.

“The day marks survival and invasion for the Aboriginal people but, on the hand, it is the triumph of a nation to absorb, thrive and grow with people from all around the world.”

Uncle Rick said he hopes future Australia Day celebrations can have more of a focus on Survival Day.

“(Australia Day) is always a bit up and down but we have a really supportive community here. We are hoping to have Survival Day activities in the future,” he said.

“We have been really impressed with the Mount Alexander Shire, they have bent over backwards to support us and we try to do the same.”