Maroondah’s National Reconciliation Week celebrations will get under way with a special launch in Ringwood on Wednesday 27 May.

The free celebration is open to the public and will feature a number of activities including the launch of Council’s Reconciliation Policy Statement. The event begins at 10am with a traditional Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony at Maroondah Federation Estate, 32 Greenwood Avenue, Ringwood.

Councillor Alex Makin said National Reconciliation Week – Wednesday 27 May to Wednesday 3 June – provided a chance for the community to celebrate unity and respect between all peoples in line with the event’s theme for 2009, Reconciliation: Turning Words into Action.

“A key aspect of Council’s pursuit of this theme will be the launch of our Reconciliation Policy Statement,” Cr Makin said.

“The Reconciliation Policy Statement outlines four key areas of Council’s commitment – cultural heritage and community education; economic development and employment; health and wellbeing; and governance – and identifies strategies to assist in achieving our vision,” Cr Makin said.

Cr Makin said National Reconciliation Week provided the Maroondah community with an opportunity to show their support for Indigenous Australians and the reconciliation process.

“The opening of this year’s celebrations in Maroondah will be marked by a traditional Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, followed by a flag ceremony and a display by the One Fire Aboriginal Dance Troupe,” Cr Makin said.

“Students from local primary and secondary schools will round the day off with a ‘hands-on’ taste of Indigenous culture including clap stick making, story telling, basket coiling and Aboriginal dance & didgeridoo playing,” Cr Makin said.

Council’s Arts and Cultural Services will be exhibiting a community art project throughout National Reconciliation Week at Maroondah Federation Estate. The Crossing Cultures Experience has been produced by two local Indigenous artists working in-house with the Monkami Centre and Kalinda Primary School.

To find out more about the The Crossing Cultures Experience and the celebrations at Maroondah Federation Estate phone 9298 4553.

Elsewhere, an Indigenous program will be held at Yarrunga Community Centre on Wednesday 27 May. A movie screening and free workshops will feature, giving the Maroondah community an opportunity to become involved in a range of Indigenous-based experiences.

For more information about the program, phone Yarrunga Community Centre Program Manager Jeanette McRae on 9722 8942.

National Reconciliation Week was first celebrated in 1996 and is timed to coincide with two significant dates in Australia’s history.

The first date, 27 May, marks the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum when over 90 per cent of Australians voted to remove clauses from the Australian Constitution that discriminated against Indigenous Australians. The week of celebration concludes on 3 June, which marks the anniversary of the High Court of Australia’s Mabo decision in 1992 which recognised the Native Title rights of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

For further information on Maroondah’s National Reconciliation Week activities, phone Council’s Arts and Cultural Services team on 9298 4553.