Maribyrnong council is preparing to host a public flag lowering and Welcome to Country on Thursday, January 26 and recognise the day as a day of mourning for First Nations people for the first time in its history.
At its meeting on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, Maribyrnong council passed a motion to continue to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26 with involvement from First Nations people and write to federal government representatives to advocate for them to consider changing the date of the national celebration.
Maribyrnong mayor Sarah Carter and deputy mayor Cuc Lam will lower the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags to half-mast at a ceremony at 8.30am at the Braybrook Community Hub to acknowledge the grief and loss the day represents for a number of First Nations people.
The council will then host a Welcome to Country incorporating a smoking ceremony at the Maribyrnong Community Centre from 9.30pm ahead of this year’s citizenship ceremony, during which 60 conferees will take the pledge to become Australian citizens.
Maribyrnong mayor Sarah Carter said
“This is one way we can help those who are not fully aware of the background to this significant and increasingly mainstream issue, particularly in respect to the experiences of First Nations Peoples, to better understand the stories and appreciate their journey,” she said.
“This is a first step towards a more respectful acknowledgement, recognising this is about more than just one day.
“Council remains committed to continuing to engage, educate and inform around wider issues.”
While the community is able to participate in both the flag lowering and Welcome to Country events, the citizenship ceremony is a private event and will not be open to the public.
