Council celebrates Aboriginal community

RECONCILIATION Week has been celebrated across Greater Dandenong this week as part of ongoing recognition of Indigenous Australians.
Festivities kicked off last week when City of Greater Dandenong mayor Youhorn Chea and members of the local Aboriginal community took part in a special flag-raising ceremony at the Dandenong Council offices.
“Reconciliation Week is celebrated each year across Australia and provides a wonderful opportunity to bring together people who are genuinely trying to improve the relationship between indigenous and non-indigenous people,” Cr Chea said.
“The City of Greater Dandenong demonstrates a real commitment to reconciliation all year, not just this week.”
The nationally recognised week officially started on Sunday to mark the anniversary of the 1967 referendum in which more than 90 per cent of Australians voted to strike discriminatory clauses from the Australian Constitution.
It also marks the anniversary of the High Court of Australia’s decision to recognise the native title rights of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The City of Greater Dandenong has a dedicated Aboriginal policy officer, Bryon Powell, who is responsible for advocating on behalf of the local Aboriginal community.
Mr Powell is running educational seminars for the public nightly until 3 June at Dandenong Library from 7pm to 8.15pm.