The City of Ballarat's Koorie Engagement Action Group (KEAG) has been recognised at the 2020 HART Awards for its January 26 Inaugural Survival Day Dawn Ceremony at Lake Wendouree.
The Survival Day Dawn Ceremony received a Highly Commended Award in the competitive Local Government category.
Hosted by Reconciliation Victoria and the Victorian Local Governance Association, the awards were announced by the Minister for Local Government, Adem Somyurek.
The Survival Day Dawn Ceremony in Ballarat recognised that January 26 is a day of mourning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Ballarat Deputy Mayor, Cr Belinda Coates congratulated KEAG on its success in developing an initiative that brought the community together for an inclusive ceremony to promote understanding, respect and advance reconciliation in the Ballarat community.
"This is a well-deserved acknowledgment and recognition of an event that was embraced not only by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, but the broader Ballarat community," he said.
KEAG initiated, organised and led the inaugural Survival Day Dawn Ceremony inviting the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to provide feedback and assistance and sought local speakers to attend the ceremony.
KEAG partnered with key organisations including the City of Ballarat, BADAC and the Wathaurong Aboriginal Corporation, the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Federation University, Victoria Police, Centacare and Child and Family Services Ballarat.
*HART Helping Achieve Reconciliation Together
