Waminda House manager Leeane Bullard with Aunty Gayelene Arandall, Aunty Cheryl Cooper and Aunty Carol Alliman at the community house’s Reconciliation Week celebration.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
It was food, drinks and fun on a sunny autumn morning for Waminda Community House’s much-anticipated Reconciliation Week celebration.
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Bringing together local people of all backgrounds, the event began with an acknowledgement of country by much-respected local Aboriginal elder Aunty Gayelene Arandall.
That was followed by a talk from another well-respected local Aboriginal elder, Aunty Cheryl Cooper.
“I came here to speak to the people about reconciliation and what it means,” Aunty Cheryl said.
“The theme for reconciliation this year is ‘All in’ and that means everybody, no black and white — everybody.
Waminda House's garden was packed on Thursday, May 28, for its annual Reconciliation Week event.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
“We’re all in to build a better country, to move forward, because if we don't do this, that divide will always be there.
“And because we've got Treaty now (brought) to the table, we're in the truth-telling time.
“This is what I just spoke about, for all community to come together, find out and get some knowledge.”
Aunty Cheryl said she was pleased with the “great turnout”.
“We’ve got a couple of other elders here today, like Aunty Gayelene and Aunty Carol.
“And lots of the community coming together to show support as well, which is very important.
“Important because like I said, this is the same for reconciliation all over Australia, and it is everybody coming together to gain the knowledge, to gain Aboriginal knowledge because the Aboriginal people have a lot of knowledge.”
Waminda House’s Reconciliation Week event brought people together from all backgrounds.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
Waminda Community House manager Leeane Bullard said it was a great event and thanked everyone involved, including Benalla Lions who put on a barbecue and brought drinks.
“We did a Reconciliation Week event last year, and so we were really keen with the support of (Benalla Rural City Aboriginal liaison officer) Jordan Atkinson to have it again this year,” she said.
“It's just our privilege at Waminda to hold events like this and break down some barriers.”
State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes was in town for the official sod turning of a new housing development in the area.
She postponed the start of that to pop into Waminda and show her support.
“It's a wonderful event and great to have the opportunity to be home to drop in and say hi,” she said.
“I think Aunty Cheryl's words hit me in terms of bringing people together, whether they are Indigenous or non-Indigenous, in Benalla is just so important.
“It was not a feature of when I was growing up here that young Aboriginal people felt pride, because we weren't inclusive.
“We didn't celebrate and recognise the longest continuous culture in the world.
“Over the years we've got better and better with recognition and events such as this.
“But being welcome, being open and coming together is a great opportunity to learn more, to be more accepting and has my full support.
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