Aidan Knight
All together: The Boorun Boys performed cultural dances to mark the start of Reconciliation Week. Photographs: Aidan Knight
By AIDAN KNIGHT
MORWELL was host to this year’s opening of Reconciliation Week (May 27 to June 3) within Latrobe City.
Latrobe City Chief Executive Steve Piasente emceed an official cultural celebration outside council headquarters on Commercial Road, alongside Mayor Sharon Gibson.
Valley residents and workers attended, including council staff, local paramedics, representatives from schools and cultural outreach groups, and the First Nations community.
The Welcome to Country was performed by Aunty Christie, speaking of her mother’s experiences and the way elders have brought people together to share stories during Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week. She also reflected on visiting a Morwell primary school, where Grade 6 students led an Acknowledgement of Country and listened to her read The Land of My Mother’s People.
Aunty Christine then led a smoking ceremony, inviting attendees to walk through the smoke as a cleansing practice and a way of thanking ancestors for allowing people onto Country. She explained that smoking has been used for thousands of years for initiations, celebrations, to deter bad spirits and, in her own Monero Ngarigo tradition, to give thanks when leaving Country
Flag raising was performed by local primary school students, watched on by councillors, council staff and the community in the forecourt.
The standout portion of the event was the performance by the Boorun Boys cultural dance group.
Elder leaders described how the group’s dances celebrate culture and keep young people strong and proud, with a space left in the middle of the formation to protect the spirit and future of Kaiden Morgan, a young Morwell man killed near his home last September.
The group explained that this open space is held for Kaiden, a key member of the group, acknowledging his ongoing spiritual presence as part of the boys’ cultural journey, and to ensure his memory is continued through the group
Boorun Boys manager, Ashleigh Dalton, spoke about the theme of this year’s National Reconciliation Week, ‘All in, leading the way’, and urged the community to live reconciliation every day, not just talk about it.
She shared her pride in watching the boys grow into young men through dance and culture, and spoke emotionally about Kaiden, saying she feels his presence when the sun breaks through as the boys perform.
“Culture and connection are at the heart of breaking that cycle,” she said, adding that seeing the next generation stand strong in culture had been “one of the greatest honours” of her life.
The event closed with thanks from Mr Piasente, who acknowledged the importance of recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and futures, and invited attendees upstairs to share traditional foods prepared by Troy Brown Bush Tucker.
Guests were encouraged to connect with members of Latrobe City’s Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group to learn more about ongoing reconciliation initiatives within the municipality.
Duty: Latrobe City officials assisted students with the flag raising.
Practice: Aunty Christy led a smoking ceremony after the Welcome to Country.
Ritual: Locals take walking through the smoke as part of the ceremony
Story: National Reconciliation Week calls on all Australians to recognise the significance of Indigenous history and tradition.
Solemn: Latrobe City Chief Executive Steve Piasente and mayor Sharon Gibson during the smoking ceremony.
