The Corangamite Shire community is warmly invited to come together for a morning of connection, storytelling, and delicious damper as part of Council's NAIDOC Week celebration on Tuesday 8 July from 10 am.
The event will begin at Camperdown's Wombeetch Puyuun Reconciliation Garden with a Welcome to Country by Tommy Clarke from the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation.
Following the welcome, the Corangamite Early Years team will host a special story time session at the garden, featuring a book by a First Nations author.
Community members are then invited to join a walk to the Community Flagpole on Manifold Street, where the Aboriginal flag will be raised in recognition of the week's significance. The celebration will continue with storytelling around a fire pit, concluding with a sharing of damper made with Indigenous ingredients, accompanied by tea.
Manager Economy and Prosperity Katy McMahon said the event will be a great reflection of the 2025 theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.
"This event invites us to reflect on our journey and the steps Corangamite is taking to build a future grounded in reconciliation," Ms McMahon said.
"We welcome people of all ages to join us for a morning of connection and storytelling.
"We'll finish with delicious damper made with Indigenous ingredients like wattle seed, served with tea.
"Whether you join us for one part or all of the activities, we look forward to sharing this meaningful celebration with you."
National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year's National NAIDOC Week marks 50 years of the week-long celebrations, and the theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, celebrates achievements of the past and the bright future ahead.
Event Details
Tuesday 8 July 10 am to 12 pm
- Gather at Wombeetch Puyuun Reconciliation Garden, (2B Walker St, Camperdown) for 10 am start
- 10.00 am - Welcome to Country by Tommy Clarke from the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation
- 10.15 am – Story time with Early Years team
- 10.30 am – Walk to Community Flagpole | From Garden to outside The Courthouse Camperdown (179 Manifold Street)
- 11.00 am – Flag raising ceremony
- 11.15 am – Story time around a fire pit | Sitting area next to Community Flagpole
- 11.30 am – Sharing of Damper (with Indigenous ingredients) and tea | Sitting area next to Community Flagpole
