The Woodend community celebrates Australia Day with Rotary
A great turnout of around 160 people enjoyed the warm weather (under cover of course), great food from Dhaba (Indian food) and OneVoice (Mexican Food) as well as the terrific band 'Yeah Nah' back for the second year. The day was a great community event supported by the National Australia Day Council, the local Federal member for McEwan, Rob Mitchell, State member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas and Macedon Ranges councilors, Mayor Jennifer Anderson and Janet Pearce.
The special day was made possible with the support of the National Australia Day Council whose funding supported the rent of the RSL, the band, food trucks, face painting and marquees. Woodend RSL provided the facilities and all attendees were well protected from the heat of the day. Support was also on hand from a team of St John Ambulance members.
Rotarian Grant Hocking explained that the day is challenging for many, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Rotary Woodend had respectfully invited the Traditional Owners of the land, the Djarra, to attend and had received a very kind and thoughtful response explaining that while they would not attend, the Dja Dja Wurrung vision is to build a better understanding of the shared history of Australia and one day to lead the celebration of this land as our home.
Rotary Woodend thanks all those who turned out for the wonderful Woodend Community Australia Day event.
