In a conversation with NITV Radio, Sarah Jane Hall Co-Chair of the KEAG said that since 2020, in consultation with the Koorie Engagement Action Group (KEAG) - a consultative First Nations body - the City of Ballarat has made changes to the way it marks January 26.
Ballarat has, amongst other initiatives, scrapped the traditional fireworks and reiterated its commitment to have local acknowledgment of what January 26 means to all its constituents.
This year KEAG is marking January 26 with a Dawn Service known as Survival Day Dawn Ceremony.
Holding a Kangaroo with over 2000 handprints from participants - from left to right Sarah Jane Hall (Narunga); Deb Lowah Clark (Meriam), Bonnie Chew (Wadawurrung), Zane Harris (Djab Warrung) and Tammy Gibson (Wadawurrung).
During the Dawn Service people can learn about some of the history, the government policies, actions, and traumas that have impacted and continue to affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Sarah Jane Hall stresses that the focus on the day is not to chock people. The intent is to foster, healing and unity.
“It is a time to learn about the history of massacres and heartache in Australia. But it is a time of reflection, a time of healing; it is a beautiful way for people to come together, a tangible way to practice culture in unity with Indigenous and non-Indigenous people coming together.”
Some KEAG members, from left to right Co-chair Cr Belinda Coates, Adina King (Awabakal), Deb Lowah Clark (Meriam), Co-chair Sarah Jane Hall (Narunga) and Nikki Foy (Gunditjmara/Wotubuluk)
“This may have been the first Dawn Service in Australia on a wide scale.”
