One of the local organisations marking National Reconciliation Week was Kirrip Aboriginal Corporation, hosting a flag raising, smoking ceremony, and barbecue lunch event in Melton South.
Speakers at the event included chief executive Graham Briggs and Elders Program community facilitator and Elder Brenda Faye.
Mr Briggs said this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme of Bridging Now to Next is deeply personal.
“It speaks to the unbroken thread that links our cultural heritage, our lived experiences, and our hopes for the generations to come. For me, it’s about honouring the sacrifices of those who came before – our Elders, our trailblazers – and recognising that their courage and resilience laid the foundation for everything we do today,” Mr Briggs said.
“Reconciliation is not just a week – it’s a lifelong journey … we’ve seen the kind of damage racism and ignorance can cause, especially during the Voice referendum … reconciliation is more than a checkbox or campaign; it’s about the majority standing up for the marginalised, about creating real inclusion.
“Whether you’re the only Aboriginal councillor in the room or the only boy playing in a netball team – it’s about visibility, voice, and valuing difference.”
Mr Briggs also spoke about the significance of identity.
“Identity is everything. The fact that so many Aboriginal people are told ‘you don’t look Aboriginal’ is a direct result of colonial policies – assimilation, dispossession, forced removal. These wounds run deep. But our programs help to heal. We teach that our identity isn’t up for debate. Reconciliation begins when the broader Australian public understands that too.”
Mr Briggs spoke about the legacy and inspiration drawn from his own family, and said he calls on “Aboriginal families to step forward, get involved, and bring their voice to this space” at Kirrip.
