By BRIDGET COOK
ABOUT 1000 people turned out to the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) Cranbourne last week for a celebration of Aboriginal and Islander culture.
The gardens held their second annual ‘Koolin-ik ba kirrip-buluk’ event, meaning family and friends in Boon Wurrung language, as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations around the country.
The week aims to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and is an opportunity to recognise the contributions that Indigenous Australians make to the country and society.
The RBG celebrated on Wednesday 9 July with a full day of cultural activities.
RBG Cranbourne acting director Sharon Willoughby said the event was a great success.
“It was a day of celebration of Indigenous culture,” she said.
“A day when we acknowledged the national NAIDOC theme of serving the country and the Indigenous men and women who served and still serve today in defence of country.
“There were a lot of activities on the day for families and children.
“Highlights included Uncle Ron Murray’s storytelling, he had every child and most of the adults enthralled during his wonderful yarns.
“For many members of the community, the chance to see family, friends and spend time with elders was the real highlight of the day.”
Features of the event included a Welcome to Country by Aunty Carolyn Briggs and Aunty Di Kerr, Indigenous acknowledgement of servicemen and women, lighting of the fire pit on Gibson’s Hill and the opportunity to access records on the Victorian Indigenous Honours Roll.
Popular activities from last year’s event returned including clap stick decorating, Aboriginal dance, ochre rock painting, string making and weaving and it all culminating in a special closing ceremony.
Ms Willoughby said there was a deep sense of honour in opening up the Australian Garden for NAIDOC celebrations.
“The vision of the gardens in creating the Australian Garden was to cultivate a place in which the whole of our community could gather and connect to country, each other, and plants,” she said.
“A place for sharing cultures and exploring our remarkable natural world.”
The celebration was presented by the RBG Cranbourne in partnership with Southern VACCA, Communities for Children Projects, Casey-Cardinia Library Corporation, and DDACL – Aboriginal Best Start.
