There was a large crowd gathered in Victoria Street, at the Kerang Council Building, last Wednesday May 28 to mark National Reconciliation Week 2025.
It has been estimated a record 350 people attended the flag raising with Gannawarra Shire Deputy Mayor, Cr Ross Stanton joining Ray Davis in raising the Aboriginal flag.
The crowd then participated in the annual walk to the Kerang Memorial Hall, led by elders and community leaders, to further celebrate with a smoking ceremony and welcome to country led by Hack Webster.
Gannawarra Shire Council chief executive officer, Geoff Rollinson said It is great to see National Reconciliation Week celebrations continue to grow in the Gannawarra, with the number of residents taking the time to mark this special occasion increasing each year.
“The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2025 is Bridging Now to Next, which calls on all of us to step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward towards reconciliation as past lessons guide us,” he said.
“This message was evident as part of our celebrations, which attracted school children from across Gannawarra and beyond including Kerang, Cohuna, Koondrook, Murrabit, and Barham, as well as Aboriginal Elders and other community leaders.”
Festivities at the Kerang Memorial Hall also included a reading of the story ‘Country’ by Aunty Lil Murray, music from Yorta Yorta musician, Madi Colville-Walker was followed by a complimentary morning tea. This gave attendees the opportunity to view various pieces of art created by local indigenous children and youth groups, Kethawil Pembenguuk and Tyipen Kwe.
Mr Rollinson also said, that the celebrations at the Kerang Memorial Hall catered for all ages, and it was pleasing to welcome Madi back to the Gannawarra as an inspiring role model for local children and young people.
“Council and our partners acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land within the Gannawarra Shire, the Barapa Barapa, Wamba Wamba, and Yorta Yorta peoples, and thank the wider community for joining us in walking and celebrating First Nations history and culture together as part of this year’s Reconciliation Week celebrations,” he added.
The event was held in partnership with Gannawarra Shire Council, Mallee District Aboriginal Services, Northern District Community Health and the Kerang Elders and Leaders Group and was funded by the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) as part of the Gannawarra Community Flood Recovery Program.
This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 5 June 2025.
