by Bonnie Collings
A large group of locals came together at Warragul's Rotary Park on January 26 for the fourth annual survival day gathering, acknowledging the past, present and ongoing impacts of colonial invasion.
Members of the Kurnai community attended the gathering, alongside many community members who support the call to change the date of Australia day.
Event organisers Rochelle Hine and Chris Turner acknowledged the number of people attending the gathering reflected the opinions of community members.
"I think it demonstrates that there are quite a lot of people, a lot of families who live in the Baw Baw municipality who feel different to the mainstream, the voices that we often hear," Dr Hine said.
"If this event didn't occur, it could feel in our individual homes and minds, like we were the only ones that (felt) a sense of injustice around these issues. We're here, we're communicating with each other, progressing conversations and sharing our knowledge and knowing that we're not alone. There's a very solid movement of people who want things to change."
Dr Turner said "keeping conversations alive" was an important part of the gathering.
"I've had a lot of conversations with people who have said often their ideas around this particular issue are kept internal," Dr Turner added.
"Every person who attended will have conversations and discussions with their families and other people in the community. "It's been encouraging that more and more people are taking that opportunity."
Dr Turner said the lack of survival day events in the area was the driving force behind the now annual gathering at Warragul Rotary Park.
"All rural communities are built on the spirit of community," he said. "This is our community, we're the ones that have to do something."
Dr Hine said the intention of the survival day gathering was to "demonstrate solidarity" with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and First Nations people across Australia.
"We're very conscious that everything we do is grounded in self-determination and ensuring that the issues we discuss and the advocacy and lobbying that we might do, meets the preferences, priorities and needs of local Aboriginal people," she said.
Dr Hine said she felt "disappointed" by conversations from local leaders regarding celebrating January 26.
"There's an attitude expressed that while (January 26) is a gazetted public holiday (they're) going to support and promote the events locally," she said.
"If we accept that (January 26) is a gazetted holiday, and we don't change our attitudes until (the date) changes, how is it ever going to change? It's incumbent on leaders in our community to demonstrate leadership for people who might be disadvantaged by the current structures and systems, not just people who are like them."