This year the national theme of NAIDOC week was ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!, a call for action to bring about systemic change and to keep rallying around mobs, Elders and our communities.
In a later celebration of NAIDOC week so school groups would be able to attend, Many Mobs Indigenous Corporation with Yarrawonga Health and several local schools are coming together to take part in a Connections walk across the Yarrawonga Mulwala traffic bridge followed by community celebrations at Kennedy Park.
Kicking off at 10.15am from Miss Ross Hill in Mulwala, everyone is welcome to attend a minute silence and smoking ceremony before following Elder Darren Atkinson across the traffic bridge, along the foreshore and on to Kennedy Park.
Once at Kennedy Park, from 11.30am an official welcome will be completed by Uncle Darren as well as a dance performance by Dumanmu Bangerang Dance Group.
Following this will be a welcome by Yarrawonga Health as well as an acknowledgement to country by Many Mobs Indigenous Corporation cofounder/ CEO Iris Troutman followed by a presentation of artwork “Remembering our Songlines” to Yarrawonga Police before lunch at 12pm and traditional games and an artifacts display hosted by ASHE from 12.30pm.
Many Mobs Co-Founder Aunty Iris Troutman invites the whole community to get involved in the Connections Walk.
“We at Many Mobs are about connecting the community, no matter what culture or background you come from,” Aunty Iris said.
“Our aim always is to heal the land and one another and we hope this year the whole community gets behind the theme and comes together in unity.
“Whether it’s seeking environmental, cultural and heritage protection, constitutional change, a comprehensive process of truth-telling, working towards treaties, or calling out racism—we must do it together.
“It is a part of everyone’s history and moving forward.
“We invite everyone to Get Up. Stand Up and Show Up on Thursday.”
As well as NAIDOC celebrations you can also take part in the Many Mobs Indigenous Corporation by joining in their Yarn-Up sessions on the second Monday of every month from 11am to 1pm at the Senior Citizens Centre, a time to get together for a yarn and cuppa.
“Many Mobs is a community group for all and we welcome anyone and everyone to come along and just have a yarn about anything and everything,” Iris said.
“We are a community orientated organisation across the north and south sides of the Murray River and love to help connect all cultures and communities.
“Our next Yarn-up session will be at the Senior Citizens Centre in Hovell Street on Monday, August 8 before our next one on September 12 but we invite anyone to come along.”
For more information on the Yarn-Up sessions or Many Mobs in general, contact Aunty Iris on 0477 528 246 or by email at manymobsvichq@gmail.com.