Australia Day – Survival Day event wins Reconciliation Victoria award
Published on 30 May 2024
Mount Alexander Shire Council is proud to share the news that the shire’s Australia Day – Survival Day event has been recognised with a Reconciliation Victoria award.
The event was selected as one of the winners of the 2024 Maggolee Awards, which celebrate and recognise strong partnerships between Victorian local governments and First Nations Peoples.
Australia Day – Survival Day is an annual community event held in Castlemaine on 26 January.
The event was first held in 2018 in collaboration with Dja Dja Wurrung Elder, Uncle Rick Nelson, and has continued every year since.
“Australia Day – Survival day has come so far since my father (Uncle Brien Nelson) first raised the Aboriginal Flag, and since Aunty Julie McHale won the Citizen of the Year award in 2017,” said Uncle Rick.
“Now we have an amazing event with a concert that celebrates our survival, with such a diverse and incredible level of talent performing on the day.
“We’re all community, we’ve got to live side by side, so we need to work together to move forward, towards reconciliation.
“An event like Australia Day – Survival Day does just that, it promotes unity in our shire and beyond.”
Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Mayor, Cr Matthew Driscoll, said he’s proud to see the event recognised and celebrated.
“For many people, 26 January is a day of mourning and one that brings mixed feelings,” said Mayor Driscoll.
“At Council, we wanted to host an event that respects our First Nations community’s right to mourn as well as their right to celebrate survival.
“The day begins with our Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony. We then begin our Survival Day concert, which is programmed by Uncle Rick.
“Every year we have a line-up of incredible First Nations musicians and this year was no different.
“We have free catering by local businesses, we set up picnic blankets and we dance. It’s a day where our entire community comes together.
“Everyone who’s been to one of our Australia Day – Survival Day events knows it’s a really special day, and that it gets better and better each year.
“It’s fantastic to see the work that Council has done in partnership with Uncle Rick get the wider recognition it deserves.
“Congratulations to everyone involved in making Australia Day – Survival Day the amazing event that it is. This award is well-deserved.”