Dr Eileen Harrison joins NAIDOC Week celebrations in the Pyrenees
Published on 12 July 2023
Held at the beginning of July each year, National NAIDOC Week is a is a time to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
In the Pyrenees Shire, NAIDOC Week 2023 was marked by a series of vibrant events at our Community Resource Centres celebrating the storytelling, art and culture of First Nations peoples.
Dr Auntie Eileen Harrison, renowned artist and author of Black Swan: A Koorie Woman’s Life provided a compelling focus for the week's events, giving talks at in Beaufort on Tuesday and Avoca on Wednesday.
In a moving and at times emotional presentation, Auntie Eileen generously shared her life story, from growing up in on the Lake Tyers mission, to being forced to move to Ararat under assimilation policy and the resulting break-up of her family, to her achievements as an artist on the world stage.
The event in Avoca began with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony conducted by Dja Dja Wurrung Traditional Owner Jason Kerr, which was attended by around 30 people.
Both Community Resource Centres also hosted school holiday dot painting, craft and story time activities for the kids, along with displays of flowers and books showcasing the culture of First Nations peoples.
Read more about Council's commitment to supporting reconciliation in our Reconciliation Plan.