By Laura Michell
Whittlesea council is being urged to change the date of its Australia Day celebrations as a sign of respect for the municipality’s Aboriginal population.
The Whittlesea Reconciliation Group – which comprises Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal residents – has launched a petition calling for the change.
The group also wants the council to hold citizenship ceremonies on a different date, acknowledge January 26 as survival day and include a welcome to country at future citizenship ceremonies.
WRG co-chair and Gunditjmara woman Karen Bryant said January 26 represented a “painful time in history” when Aboriginal people were killed and forced from their homes.
“It’s hard to celebrate on a day of remembrance, and this means Aboriginal people in our community can’t participate in a day that’s meant to be for all Australians,” she said.
“We’re calling on the City of Whittlesea to stand with Aboriginal residents and make Australia Day a celebration we can all participate in.”
Doreen resident Sarah Gafforini, who is a non-Aboriginal member of the WRG, said she wanted an Australia Day where everyone in the community was included and could celebrate together.
Whittlesea mayor Lawrie Cox said he personally believed it was time for the community to have a conversation about Australia Day.
Cr Cox said he was aware that Australia Day was “uncomfortable” for a lot of people, and excluded parts of the community.
“I’m not saying January 26 will change or calling for change … there has got to be a conversation with the whole community that is inclusive of everybody’s views,” he said.
“It is not simply a matter of forcing January 26.”
The petition is the second time the group has pushed for a change of date, writing to the council in October 2017 to ask for a rethink on Australia Day.
