Hepburn Shire was selected as one of the inaugural winners of the Maggolee Awards 2023 for facilitating the Frontier Wars Memorial along Malmsbury-Daylesford Road in Daylesford.
The Maggolee Awards recognise Victorian councils that have shown excellence working in partnership with First Peoples to support self-determination, advance reconciliation, and strengthen inclusion of First Peoples’ voices.
The Manna Gums site for the Aboriginal Peoples Memorial recognises and honours the loss of lives, the sacrifice and suffering inflicted on Aboriginal people during the frontier wars.
Mt Alexander Shire was also recognised for Boorp Boorp Boondyil (Passing knowledge to our Children), an exhibition in the Castlemaine Visitor Information Centre. Local Djaara elder, Uncle Ricky Nelson, was instrumental in developing the exhibit.
The Magoolee website includes information about Reconciliation actions in each of the 79 Victorian local government areas. Reconciliation Victoria developed the site in collaboration with local government organisations, the Koori Youth Council, and Aboriginal Victoria.
Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said the Maggolee award acknowledges the excellent work being undertaken in Hepburn Shire.
“It’s wonderful to be recognised as leaders in the area of reconciliation,” said Cr Hood. “Our work in this area is about encouraging unity and respect between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and our non-indigenous community,” he said.
“It is particularly meaningful to have this acknowledged during National Reconciliation Week, a time when we explore how we can contribute to achieving reconciliation.”
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