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Sebastopol’s Royal Mail Hotel has planned a special event for January 23 and 24, aiming to welcome the community and bring it together with a weekend of music. Owner John Rattley has been waiting to kick off live music at the pub, which reopened late last year. Recognising how attitudes to January 26 had changed over the years, he decided to do something about it. READ MORE: Ballarat Survival Day dawn ceremony 2021: Livestream and documentary announced Getting in touch with the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, as well as tons of local musicians, he’s aiming to hold a positive, inclusive weekend of good music, beginning with a traditional smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country. “Something close to my heart for some years has been the Stolen Generation, and just what has happened to our Indigenous population in this country,” he said. “I know it’s politically sensitive and can be a controversial topic, but if it’s handled delicately and sensibly we can come together in a celebration of togetherness. “Music brings us together, I think we need to celebrate that – I’ve never been one to back away from hard calls, I don’t want to be political about it, but it’s time.” Money from the door will also be donated to charities running programs for Indigenous young people, he added, while a Texas-style barbecue will be running outside all weekend. It all kicks off about 3pm on Saturday, with live music through the weekend on three different stages – Mr Rattley added he’s hoping to bring in musicians every weekend. IN THE NEWS On January 26, Ballarat’s Koorie Engagement Action Group, supported by the City of Ballarat, will hold a virtual Survival Day dawn ceremony from Lake Wendouree, broadcast online to the world, from 5.30am. Last year’s inaugural event, attended by thousands of people, was a stark reminder of the injustices and bloodshed Indigenous people have faced since colonisation. Visit the KEAG Facebook page for more information, as well as how to get involved in a documentary about the ceremony. Have you signed up to The Courier’s variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that’s happening in Ballarat.
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Sebastopol’s Royal Mail Hotel has planned a special event for January 23 and 24, aiming to welcome the community and bring it together with a weekend of music.
Owner John Rattley has been waiting to kick off live music at the pub, which reopened late last year.
Recognising how attitudes to January 26 had changed over the years, he decided to do something about it.
Getting in touch with the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, as well as tons of local musicians, he’s aiming to hold a positive, inclusive weekend of good music, beginning with a traditional smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country.
“Something close to my heart for some years has been the Stolen Generation, and just what has happened to our Indigenous population in this country,” he said.
“I know it’s politically sensitive and can be a controversial topic, but if it’s handled delicately and sensibly we can come together in a celebration of togetherness.
“Music brings us together, I think we need to celebrate that – I’ve never been one to back away from hard calls, I don’t want to be political about it, but it’s time.”
Money from the door will also be donated to charities running programs for Indigenous young people, he added, while a Texas-style barbecue will be running outside all weekend.
It all kicks off about 3pm on Saturday, with live music through the weekend on three different stages – Mr Rattley added he’s hoping to bring in musicians every weekend.
On January 26, Ballarat’s Koorie Engagement Action Group, supported by the City of Ballarat, will hold a virtual Survival Day dawn ceremony from Lake Wendouree, broadcast online to the world, from 5.30am.
Last year’s inaugural event, attended by thousands of people, was a stark reminder of the injustices and bloodshed Indigenous people have faced since colonisation.
Visit the KEAG Facebook page for more information, as well as how to get involved in a documentary about the ceremony.
Have you signed up to The Courier’s variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that’s happening in Ballarat.