Elders and community gather to start Reconciliation Week

Business and community organisations gathered on Monday to mark the start of Reconciliation Week with a breakfast organised by Yaka Dandjoo Events.

The Bunbury-Geographe Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted the event which started with a welcome to country by elder Sharon Cooke.

Yaka Dandjoo Events chair Charmaine May said she was always excited by the opportunity to talk about cultural events and reconciliation was a chance to improve the ways in which culture is shared with the wider community.

“That’s the responsibility we have in the community, thinking about broader spaces and how we can better connect and have better conversations, because it’s about creating communities that are strong that have capacity to thrive,” she said.

Leader Karen Jetta encouraged the community to get involved with the Reconciliation March which is taking place in Bunbury on Friday from the Wardandi Boodja statue at Koombana Bay Foreshore to the Graham Bricknell Memorial Music Shell.

“Let’s reach deep inside our hearts — we started off with something simple and small, and we’ve grown to something big,” she said.

“Friday, we walk in collaboration with everybody else, so let’s all get on board this week. Go to an event that’s happening and be a part of the move forward.”