Geelong: Reconciliation in the Park
Established by Aboriginal community leaders with One Fire in 2010, this is Geelong's annual Aboriginal community-led National Reconciliation Week event. By listening to and learning from local First Nations people we strengthen all of community on Wadawurrung Country.
With partners, we won the Victorian 2016 Community HART Award for this free event. This 16th year’s event will be at Johnstone Park on Sunday 1st June, 2025.
Djillong Project - https://www.geelongonefire.org.au/index.php/djillong-local-history
Initially created with the late Uncle David Tournier and updated with Corrina Eccles, the timeline about Djilang (still spelt Djillong on the timeline) is a key local learning resource. Djilang: a tongue of land, connects us all to history and story on Wadawurrung Country. You can hear local Aboriginal leaders telling their stories - Djillong: Our History, Our Story, Our Future. Contact One Fire if you would like to purchase the timeline banner.
Geelong Council Advisory Committees
One Fire has been represented on the Heritage and Kilangitj Aboriginal Advisory Committees. On Kilangitj we sat alongside local Aboriginal community members and agencies. Council adopted a Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan in 2020, with some actions having been achieved. Broad community conversations about 26 January over six months in 2023 resulted in some progress for local truth telling on this date, however none have been enacted to date.
One Fire Members Learning Together
One Fire members learn with and are guided by Wadawurrung and other First Nations community educators through conversations, workshops and time on Country. This strengthens our knowledge and capacity to bring others with us in order to become more effective allies to First Nations people, backing their self-determination.
Backing Aboriginal Peoples’ Leadership & Self-determination - partnering
One Fire partners with local organisations. This includes building young people's reconciliation leadership through the Wangala Balit Ngarrwa (making knowledge strong) Project. This annual day of workshops with Year 5-aged students is provided through a partnership with the Koorie Engagement Support team, Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation and Geelong Regional Libraries Service. The project builds young people’s reconciliation initiatives through their schools, homes and communities.
Reconciliation Victoria - http://www.reconciliationvic.org.au/
One Fire is a member of Reconciliation Victoria, attending online discussions and forums.
In 2023 we partnered with Reconciliation Victoria for Voice Referendum conversations in Geelong, in support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
In 2025 a focus will be on the Victorian Treaty progress and our role as Friends of Treaty.
January 26
Reconciliation Victoria supports a continuing national conversation about shifting our national day from January 26, and acting on the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
One Fire is committed to truth telling and the growth of knowledge about the impacts of colonisation on First Nations Peoples on these sovereign lands, including on Wadawurrung Country. This is, we believe, a necessary journey to a society we can all celebrate.
First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria - https://www.firstpeoplesvic.org/
“Treaty is our opportunity to tackle the racist legacies of invasion and create a better future together as equals.”
The Assembly has commenced negotiations with the State Government to create the statewide Treaty. It will also support the Traditional Owner groups to negotiate Treaties that reflect the aspirations and priorities on their Countries.
Yoo-rrook Justice Commission - https://yoorrookjusticecommission.org.au/
The Commission mandate was to reveal, record and analyse the systemic injustices experienced by the First Peoples of Victoria since colonisation. These are available online.
Allies: “we’d still love your company on the journey, so please become an ally by signing up to 'Team Treaty' to receive updates and information about how you can help”.
Uluru Statement from the Heart - https://ulurustatement.org/ & https://fromtheheart.com.au/
One Fire believes that our local activities are deeply interconnected with progress towards national reconciliation, or reckoning.
Whilst the 2023 referendum to establish a First Nations Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution was not successful, we continue to support the Statement’s intentions.