Explore the impactful initiatives driving reconciliation in the Shire of Nillumbik and learn more about our ongoing efforts and how you can get involved in creating positive change in our community.
Gawa Wurundjeri Resource Trail Education
The Gawa Trail hosts local groups—scouts and schools alike—for immersive sessions highlighting Wurundjeri culture and land management. Volunteers ensure the trail’s readiness and guided visitors through hands-on experiences, making the space a valuable, living classroom that deepens respect and awareness for Indigenous heritage. The project’s importance lies in nurturing the next generation’s connection to local Aboriginal history and custodianship.
Moor-Rul Grasslands Traditional Planting
Friendship and ecology combine at Moor-Rul, where a dedicated team meets monthly to restore traditional Aboriginal grasslands at a significant memorial site. Visitors can experience what the landscape might have been before colonisation. This project is vital for environmental education and truth-telling, allowing physical reconnection with country and supporting the health of native ecosystems.
Art Museum Planning: Embedding Indigenous Perspectives
NRG plays an active advisory role on the Nillumbik Art Museum Committee to ensure that Wurundjeri history and culture are embedded throughout all planning, design, and future programming of the new museum. By advocating for permanent representation and consultation with Indigenous people, NRG helps guarantee that the museum reflects local Aboriginal heritage, creating lasting educational value and meaningful recognition for the whole community.
Memorial Event Acknowledgment Ceremonies
NRG leads the respectful acknowledgment of First Nations servicemen at major civic ceremonies, including Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, where special wreaths bearing messages of recognition are laid. These actions foster public awareness and honour the service and sacrifice of Indigenous Australians, ensuring their experiences are visible and respected in community commemorations. This project brings true reconciliation into the heart of public memory and ceremony.
Nillumbik Shire Council Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Collaboration
NRG actively contributed to the development and implementation of Nillumbik Shire Council’s first Reconciliation Action Plan, a formal commitment to support First Nations people’s rights, culture, and heritage. This RAP guides council actions toward reconciliation, ensuring inclusivity and respect across services and policies. NRG’s role in the RAP committee helps embed Indigenous perspectives in local governance, advancing community healing and shared progress on reconciliation goals.
Monthly Cultural Consultations with Wurundjeri Elders
NRG participates in monthly consultations with Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation elders. These meetings provide a vital opportunity for NRG and the community to learn directly from Elders’ cultural knowledge and perspectives. The ongoing dialogue helps guide council projects with authentic cultural advice, fostering respectful partnerships and ensuring that local development aligns with Wurundjeri values and heritage preservation.
Community Flag Raising and Cultural Workshops
NRG’s presence at Reconciliation Week’s flag-raising and subsequent workshops built broad-based cultural competence. Notable speeches and initiatives aligned with national reconciliation themes, helping residents and officials bridge the past and future meaningfully. These events demonstrate NRG’s leadership in fostering cultural literacy and respectful learning across the community.
Barak Bushlands 21st Anniversary Celebration
This was a coordinated celebration and planting marking 21 years of Barak Bushlands, uniting community groups, artists, and local leaders in a day of healing and pride. Ceremonial plantings, traditional dance, and inclusive speeches honoured the legacy of Uncle William Barak. The event deepened community ownership and connection to Indigenous history and sustainability.
Bush Tucker Workshop: Living History
NRG organised a hands-on bush tucker workshop, teaching how traditional plants bridge people to country, past and present. Participants learned to identify, grow, and value native edibles in gardens and daily life. This project’s importance lies in making Indigenous knowledge accessible—a vital step towards living reconciliation.
Reflection Gathering at the Yarning Circle
A personal gathering at dawn promoted respectful reflection on the meaning of January 26th, inviting members to share and deepen their understanding at the Yarning Circle. The event’s intimacy provided a safe space for emotional connection and critical dialogue, modelling reconciliation as an ongoing, lived experience.
Meet and Greet With Shire Allies
NRG’s March event at Edendale Community Environment Farm warmly welcomed new Indigenous and council partners, featuring personal Acknowledgments of Country and reflections on custodianship. While Alana Marsh’s specific role as Aboriginal Partnerships Officer was short-lived, the broader collaborations with Nillumbik Shire Council and Edendale remain strong and ongoing. This event further expanded NRG’s reach, strengthening community connections and affirming its commitment to inclusive collaboration and reconciliation action.
Cuppa For Culture: Charity and Child Inclusion
A successful Reconciliation Week fundraiser with Reconciliation Banyule saw money raised for VACCA and children’s activities led by expert educators. This annual project exemplifies NRG’s commitment to practical support for Indigenous families and creating space for all ages to engage with reconciliation, education, and social equity.
Building Reconciliation Partnerships
NRG fostered ongoing collaborations, such as assisting Health Ability transform their community garden with Indigenous plantings and engaging school students. They advised on acknowledgement signage at Montsalvat and supported musical contributions aligned with reconciliation. Each action ensures Indigenous recognition is woven through daily life, building tangible, lasting partnerships across sectors.