Coast Shelter promotes reconciliation

Last year's reconciliation event in Gosford

Coast Shelter will host its annual reconciliation event to promote unity among the community at Gosford’s Industree Group Stadium at Gosford on Thursday, June 1.

The event, open to all age groups and cultural backgrounds, will focus on the importance of cultural exchange, mutual respect and understanding and emphasise the vital role we all have in healing and building our communities.

It will feature a Welcome to Country by respected elder Gavi Duncan of Nyanga Walang Aboriginal Cultural Services, a smoking ceremony led by Tim Selwyn of Girri Girra Aboriginal Experiences and cultural performances by The Glen and The Glen for Women.

There will also be a few moments of reflection from Coast Shelter CEO Michael Starr and Coast Shelter First Nations Co-ordinator Peter Downie.

The gathering aims to provide Central Coast residents with an insight into the culture of local Aboriginal communities while also creating an opportunity for all community members to come together and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and heritage as a proud part of a shared national identity.

Downie looks forward to bringing the community closer together through the event.

“We’re so excited to be hosting this event and watching it grow over the years to come,” he said.

“We strongly believe that when we come together through events like this we can create a world with more understanding and unified communities.”

The day will start with a march from Coast Shelter’s Community Centre at 346 Mann St at 10am, through the streets of Gosford, to Industree Group Stadium.

The reconciliation event will begin at 10.30am with members of the community invited to join in.

Source:
Coast Shelter