Norlane residents have spearheaded a campaign of welcome, tolerance and diversity over the past two weeks in response to local media coverage of demonstrations of bigotry and exclusion.
The initiative was a product of new councillor Sarah Hathway’s first community consultation meeting in Norlane last week, beginning with residents expressing their disgust at the coverage of white supremacist grandstanding at City Hall and culminating in a public display of inclusion before Tuesday night’s council meeting.
The Tuesday night rally gathered around 100 people on the steps of City Hall, many proudly holding banners promoting diversity and welcome, or flags of the community groups they were representing.
Norlane resident and community activator Jenna Wade also made a submission to councillors during the council meeting’s public question and answer time, asking them to support the community’s desire to promote a message of inclusion.
“We want to see a strong and timely response from Geelong Council to support our voices of unity and solidarity for all community members,” Ms Wade said.
“Will the City of Greater Geelong’s elected representatives here tonight listen to the voices of the community and prioritise a timely response to racism in Geelong?”
At the behest of Norlane residents and Cr Hathway, Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan instigated a photo shoot on Wednesday, July 19 with councillors and community leaders from various cultural groups to celebrate Geelong’s diversity.
Norlane residents are asking for the City to follow up that display by engaging in a poster campaign to promote the values of social justice, equity and diversity they believe the Geelong community holds dear.
“We have such a diverse community, and we want everyone to feel included,” Ms Wade said.
“We’d like to see action being taken on both sides, from the community and the council together.”
Cr Hathway said she was proud of the Norlane residents for standing up for their fellow community members.
“This really was all initiated by Norlane residents who had the idea to do their own photo on Tuesday, which got fed back to City Hall and then led to the photo shoot” she said.
“I think it’s just a sign that even a small group of residents getting together and talking through an issue and taking some initiative does have a broader impact.”
City officers said they would investigate the merits of a poster campaign internally.
