The City of Whittlesea

The City of Whittlesea enjoys a well established and highly regarded reputation for its initiatives in support of Indigenous Australians, Reconciliation and its own local Indigenous people. This is reflected in actions such as:

• Aboriginal flag flown continuously at Civic Centre;
• Aboriginal artwork prominently displayed in Council Chamber;
• Wurundjeri elders invited to conduct welcoming ceremonies at key Council events such as the election of the Mayor and opening of the Community Festival;
• Indigenous theme within Community Festival;
• Whittlesea Reconciliation Group, a community based committee, has been formed to assist Council in the continuing Reconciliation process;
• Participated in Melbourne Walk for Reconciliation on 3/12/2000 and advertised walk in Whittlesea Post newspaper;
• Formally adopted on 11/ 7/2000 the Australian Declaration Towards Reconciliation and the Statement of Commitment to Reconciliation with Indigenous Australians initiated by the Australian Local Government Association;
• Contributions from Indigenous residents included in Council's recently published oral history, A Community Portrait: Lifetimes in the City of Whittlesea;
• Circulated throughout the local community the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation's Pledge Book in support of Reconciliation;
• Formally commemorated National Sorry Day;
• Indigenous involvement in Council art programs, including mosaic designed by Indigenous artists at Riverside Community Activity Centre (see photos below);
• Seminar on Local Aboriginal history presented at Epping Community Activity Centre in September 2001;
• Participation in a Heritage Study that includes descriptions of sites/areas of sensitivity. Aboriginal Archaeological Assessments are completed for all development/subdivision sites.

The Mosaic Floor

Public artist Libby McKinnon designed a mosaic floor in the foyer of the Riverside Community Activity Centre in South Morang, during 2000 - 2001. The designs were developed in consultation with Cathy Adams, the Kulin Nation Cultural Heritage Organisation and young Indigenous people. The mosaics depict local indigenous plants, fish, fauna, snakes, eagles, long-necked turtles and the platypus.

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