Council adopts awareness raising events calendar

Published on 22 December 2022

National Reconciliation Week, IDAHOBIT Day, Seniors’ Festival and Barwon Month of Action – Prevention of Violence Against Women are some of the awareness raising events Surf Coast Shire Council will continue to support over the next three years.

At its meeting on Tuesday night, Council adopted its awareness raising events calendar 2023-2025 to provide clarity and support forward planning of key events that raise awareness on matters of significance to our community.

The events calendar includes two new events, a one-off event to acknowledge the 40th anniversary of the Ash Wednesday bushfires, which will fall on 16 February 2023, and an annual event to acknowledge the impact of 26 January on First Nations people.

Council is collaborating with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation on the event, which will be known as Pilk Purriyn, which means ‘sunrise’ in Wadawurrung language.

Council’s awareness raising events calendar 2023-2025

The calendar is not a listing of all events held in Surf Coast Shire and does not encompass the sporting and cultural events Council supports through other programs and service areas.

Cr Rose Hodge said Council was passionate about supporting events that raise awareness of key community issues.

“This calendar lets our community know what awareness events we’re supporting in an official capacity and ensures we can allocate the necessary resources,” she said.

“It has been developed to align with the objectives of our Council Plan.  We know there are so many other worthy events we could support and this certainly doesn’t diminish their importance in any way.”

“It’s great to have two new events added to the calendar, particularly Pilk Purriyn, which is an important step in our reconciliation journey.”