Jennifer Pittorino
The Yarraville Rotary Club hosted an Acknowledgement Day event on Friday, January 26, for the third consecutive year.
The day began with a sunrise ceremony performed by Gone Westerly , with Paul Kelly on Yidaki and Veronica Hall on violin.
Organiser and president Jebadiah Annear said the day was a huge success.
“It was a great day, we managed to get huge numbers,” he said.
“It’s all about the quality of the conversations we had from members of the general public who showed up too.”
Williamstown MP Melissa Horne was also in attendance, as well as members of the Rotary club and more.
“We had our lovely volunteers come and help us set up on the day, they set up all our tents and more,” he said.
Following the sunrise ceremony , attendees were greeted with a coffee van and bacon and egg rolls.
More music followed when Nina Ferro hit the stage to sing the national anthem.
“She also sang some other songs which meant alot to her, these included , ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ and ‘I am Australian,“ he said.
In her speech before singing the National Anthem, Ms Ferro said she hopes to change the conversation around January 26.
“I hope we can make it something to be looked on as a loving embrace of everyone of our history and the pain that has come from that history.”
