Tara Murray
Brimbank council will hold a minute silence on Australia Day as part of its citizenship ceremony as part of plans to raise awareness about what the day means to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
In a report tabled to at the last council meeting, it highlighted some activities which are planned for the day after consultation with the Brimbank Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultative Committee.
The activities include observing a minute of silence at the January 26 citizenship ceremony and playing a recording an Elders’ message to play at the event about what the day means to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
“Even though Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are proud of Brimbank and Australia as a whole, many people see January 26 as a date signifying the beginning of dispossession, frontier violence and destruction of culture,” the report said.
“The Brimbank Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community does not consider Australia Day as a day of celebration. This is a day of mourning and remembrance of the people who lost their lives and to those who continue to face various injustices.
“The recommendation from the committee supports an approach of respectful truth telling, reconciliation and learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories,
and adapting practices that will help the wider community to develop respect for diversity and understanding of cultural differences.”
Councillor Bruce Lancashire said this recommendation was of considerable significance.
Councillor Victoria Borg, a member of the consultative committee, said they have a responsibility to share the stories of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and that everyone needs to work hand in hand on the journey of reconciliation and healing.
