Community
25 January, 2024
Australia Day celebrations in Port Fairy
TWO community events, to be held in Port Fairy tonight (Thursday) will provide opportunities for shared reflection, healing and celebration.
Residents are invited to Pea Soup Beach No 1 in Port Fairy from 6pm for an evening of unity and healing.
Pea Soup is a significant location in Port Fairy for local Indigenous people, with a direct sightline to Deen Maar Island.
Moyne Shire mayor Cr Ian Smith said the event would include a smoking ceremony and welcome to country by Gunditjmara/Kirrae Whurrong man Brett Clarke on behalf of Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation.
The night will also offer catering by Worn Gundidj.
“We will hear from a range of community members and councillors, reflecting upon and acknowledging the past, and imagining the future,” Cr Smith said.
“This is the second year council has collaborated with Indigenous community members on an event around Australia Day and it builds on last year’s Ngootyoong Laka, Ngootyoong Yana event attended by over 300 people.”
From 11am tomorrow (Friday) at Fiddlers Green in Port Fairy there will be a citizenship ceremony for nine new citizens and presentation of the annual Moyne community awards for Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Event of the Year.
The Port Fairy Lions Club will provide a free sausage sizzle from 10am and will present their annual James O’Neill Award that recognise those quietly doing remarkable things in the community.
“I’d like to thank Kirrae Whurrong man and Port Fairy resident Ashley Couzens, Shane Bell, Brett Clarke, the Lions club and council staff for helping develop and arrange these events,” Cr Smith said.
