A truth-telling event was held on Thursday for the Surf Coast community to come together in respect for Traditional Owners and First Nations people.
Surf Coast Shire Council held a National Reconciliation Week event on May 29, which featured Wemba Wemba man and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative chief executive Simon Flagg as the guest speaker.
Councillor Leon Walker said it was important to continue elevating First Nations voices and truth-telling as part of the reconciliation process.
“Council is continuing its journey towards reconciliation, respectfully walking alongside Traditional Owners and First Nations people,” he said.
“Simon’s presentation highlighted the importance of historic truth-telling in deepening our knowledge and, more importantly, our understanding as we move towards reconciliation.”
Mr Flagg shared the story of Aboriginal parents Lucy and Percy Pepper, who lived in poverty with their seven children at various locations across the state during the early 1900s.
Mr Flagg compiled Lucy and Percy Pepper’s story from archival records, letters and photographs into a best-selling book, ‘Footprints – The Journey of Lucy and Percy Pepper’.
National Reconciliation Week started on May 27 and will run until June 3, with this year’s theme of Bridging Now to Next to help people learn about shared histories and cultures.
The event also featured a Welcome to Country by Wadawurrung woman Corrina Eccles and a performance by singer and proud Arrernte, Bundjalung woman Ngara McEwen.
