A poster for National Reconciliation Week will illustrations of First Nations people of all ages with the words 'Be Brave. Make Change.'

Published on 25 May 2022

Be Brave. Make Change.

National Reconciliation Week kicks off this Friday 27 May and you can get involved at the Southern Reconciliation Event at the Hopgood Theatre foyer, Ramsay Place, Noarlunga Centre.

Held from 10am to 2pm, the Southern Reconciliation Event will feature no-cost activity stalls, cultural sales, a barbecue and live entertainment. Free entry, all welcome.

A Welcome to Country will be provided by Clem Newchurch, a proud Kaurna Narungga Kokatha man who will also be running a nature fibre string making workshop.

The event was originally to be held at Niipu-niipu Wama/Morton Park in Christie Downs alongside the Southern Deadly Fun Run, but the event has been relocated to Ramsay Place due to inclement weather and the fun run has been postponed. 

City of Onkaparinga has collaborated with the Joining Hands and Minds Network to deliver this year’s Southern Reconciliation Event. Joining Hands and Minds works together with local services and agencies to create opportunities for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to come together to build relationships, share resources and work in a productive collaboration.

Other reconciliation-themed events happening this week include a weaving workshop from the Southern Elders Weaving Group at Aldinga Library on Saturday (sold out), a free Kaurna language workshop at Hub Library on Thursday 2 June, and an Art of Reconciliation exhibition of portraiture, photography and digital storytelling at the Port Noarlunga Arts Centre.

National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May to 3 June and this year’s theme is ‘Be Brave. Make a Change’. Reconciliation Australia says the theme is a challenge to all Australians—individuals, families, communities, organisations and government—to be brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can make change for the benefit of all Australians.

City of Onkaparinga is committed to reconciliation and promoting the strengthening of relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for the benefit of all Australians.

Council’s inaugural First Nations People Advisory Group was established in 2021 and the organisation’s inaugural draft Reconciliation Action Plan will be presented at the August council meeting for approval.