We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live, work and learn, the Bunurong.
We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
The Bass Coast Reconciliation Network is currently working on the calendar of events for this year.
Be sure to save the following dates:
NATIONAL SORRY DAY
Friday 26 May
The sun was shining and Bunjil was flying overhead as we came together to remember the impacts on the Stolen Generation and be together in support of those affected.
With over 80 people in attendance, we listened to impactful truth-telling from Patrice Mahoney, Paul Patten and Dion Triptree and everyone there felt the true sentiment of what it means to say ‘Sorry’.
We enjoyed a beautiful song by Paul Patten followed by a yummy lunch and a good yarn up.
A huge thanks to Patrice for being MC and for the BCRN events team for making this important day happen so smoothly.
NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK
27 May to 3 June 2023
The BCRN hosted a Community Forum on Friday 2 June at Inverloch with two panels representing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community and organisations that are committed to reconciliation. With approx. 100 people in attendance, we had great discussions from both panels. The first panel was Rueben Berg, Richard Weston, and Patrice Mahoney and they talked about the impacts on First Nations people such as cultural loading and the importance of respectful and appropriate support in engaging First Nations people. The second panel consisted of our very own CEO, Catherine Basterfield, Gareth Kennedy (Westernport Water), Marg Lynn (South Gippsland Bass Coast Reconciliation Group), Nicole Findlay (Reconciliation Victoria) and Amanda McMahon (Victorian Aboriginal Education) and they answered questions about what reconciliation meant to their organisation, what the challenges are, how to respectfully engage First Nations people and much more. The audience was engaging and asked many questions as well as shared their experiences and thoughts.
NAIDOC WEEK
2 to 9 July 2023
With theme of "For Our Elders " Across every generation, our Elders have played, and continue to play, an important role and hold a prominent place in our communities and families.
The struggles of our Elders help to move us forward today. The equality we continue to fight for is found in their fight. Their tenacity and strength has carried the survival of our people.
It is their influence and through their learnings that we must ensure that when it comes to future decision making for our people, there is nothing about us - without us.
We pay our respects to the Elders we’ve lost and to those who continue fighting for us across all our Nations and we pay homage to them.
In 2023, how will you celebrate For Our Elders?
INDIGENOUS ART EXHIBITION
Sunday 2 July from 1-3pm
