A special ceremony outside Hawkesbury City Council last week saw 130 people gathered from all walks of life to officially raise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags as part of National Reconciliation Week.
The Aboriginal flag was raised by Aunty Edna and Uncle Wes whilst the Torres Strait Islander flag was raised by Aunty Deb, on Tuesday May 27.
In order to honour the indigenous communities, Aunty Edna did the Welcome to Country with her granddaughter Krystal and Uncle Wes performed the traditional Smoking Ceremony where all guests were invited to walk through the smoke as part of an indigenous cleansing tradition.
Hawkesbury Mayor Kim Ford acknowledged the importance of raising the flags as well as community support of our indigenous community.
“This action represents Council’s commitment to the national reconciliation effort and fits well with this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme of Let’s Walk the Talk,’’ he said.
The flags will fly permanently outside Council’s administration building at 366 George Street, Windsor.
A wide range of representatives from Indigenous Australian organisations and local schools attended as well as councillors Mary Lyons-Buckett, Jill Reardon, Leigh Williams and general manager, Peter Jackson.
