Published on 06 July 2022
The Borough of Queenscliffe has continued its reconciliation journey with the Wadawurrung by hosting a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony to commemorate NAIDOC Week today.
Dozens of community members, Councillors and staff gathered out the front of the Queenscliff Town Hall as Wadawurrung woman and Traditional Owner Corrina Eccles conducted the ceremony, where she spoke of the rich Aboriginal history across the Bellarine region, including right here in Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale.
"I acknowledge for thousands of generations, we had thousands of people living across this beautiful saltwater Country... that provided an abundance of resources for Wadawurrung people," Corrina said.
At the end of the ceremony, Queenscliffe Mayor Ross Ebbels and Corrina both spoke of the importance of the work that Council and the Wadawurrung have completed in collaboration and how they look forward to continuing that partnership, particularly as Council develops its Reconciliation Action Plan.