City’s Aus Day rethink

Geelong council to review divisive celebration

GEELONG council is poised to formally launch a six-month review of how it marks Australia Day, more than three years after Traditional Owners quit local welcome to country ceremonies on the divisive date.

The council will meet on Tuesday to consider a recommendation to launch the community consultation – with First Nations people and the broader community – to “guide the city’s future approach to activities and commemorations held on January 26”.

“For some people in the Greater Geelong community, January 26 is a national day to celebrate, for others it represents a day of mourning and sorrow,” a city report noted.

The move comes after the Wadawarrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation in 2019 said it would no longer perform welcome to country ceremonies on that date. A city report also noted how other councils had changed their acknowledgment of Australia Day, including Ballarat’s Survival Day Dawn Ceremony, Moreland’s support of the Change the Date campaign and the Surf Coast Shire’s cancellation of taking part in celebratory events on January 26, and its flying of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags at half-mast.

A City of Greater Geelong media release – issued after 7pm on election day eve – noted the city’s acting chief executive acknowledged January 26 was a painful day for some in the community and a growing interest in reviewing how the city marked the day.

“Our understanding, as well as that of the community, regarding Australia Day continues to evolve, is why it is important to have this conversation,” acting chief executive Robyn Stevens said.

“This is an opportunity to listen, have respectful conversations, build trust and understanding and promote reconciliation across the Greater Geelong community.”

The city’s Kilangitj Aboriginal Advisory Committee, which provides advice to the city on First Nations matters, requested the council consider engaging with First Nations people and the broader community about January 26.

The committee recommended engagement for at least six months to allow for “mature and deliberative discussions on this complex and emotive topic”, according to the city release.

A city report recommended the review start with face-toface and online forums with First Nations people, followed by engagement with the broader community via online surveys, written submissions, social media and interactive community forums.