Banner Image: Maggolee Award recipient, Donna Spiller, Mt Alexander Shire. Photography by Tamati Smith.
The inaugural 2023 Maggolee Awards recognised Victorian Local Governments who have shown excellence working in partnership with First Peoples to support self-determination, advance reconciliation and strengthen inclusion of First Peoples Voices.
The awards were presented to the 2023 winners at Reconciliation Victoria's National Reconciliation Week Breakfast.
View the NRW Breakfast Image Gallery.
Mount Alexander Shire Council collaborated with local Elder Uncle Rick Nelson to design, develop and install the Boorp Boorp Boondyil (which in the language of the Jaara people in central Victoria loosely translates as "sharing knowledge with children") exhibition. Uncle Rick was hired by Council as Project Lead and along with Mount Alexander Shire Council and Sharing Stories Foundation, an Aboriginal-led organisation, created a permanent space in Castlemaine which could teach all locals and visitors, the story of the Dja Dja Wurrung peoples both past and present. This exhibition is a product of self-determination by the Aboriginal community of the shire.
Knox City Council constructed a Yarning Circle within the garden precinct at the Knox Civic Centre. Guided by conversations with the local First Nations community and Senior Wurundjeri Elder, Dave Wandin, the Yarning Circle was designed as a practical and symbolic space for listening, learning, truth telling, healing and a visual Acknowledgement of Country. The Yarning Circle has since embodied this intention for staff and the broader community as the council recognised Sorry Day in 2022.
Hepburn Shire Council initiated the First Avenue of Honour in Australia to acknowledge the Frontier Wars and pay respect to the Aboriginal lives lost defending their Country. It honours Dja Dja Wurrung ancestors and creates opportunity for truth telling and shared healing. The project, signage and opening ceremony was created in partnership with the Traditional Owners and includes Dja Dja Wurrung language, acknowledgment graphics and dual branding.
Watch the Frontier Wars Memorial video
Moonee Valley City Council has worked with Traditional Owners and the wider Aboriginal community to create their new Reconciliation Plan, Bagarru Bagarru Djerring (translates to Shoulder to Shoulder Together in Woi-wurrung). This plan is a unique example of partnerships with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal community within the municipality based on self-determination and the voices of First Peoples indecision making.
Facilitated by Wyndham City Council, the Western Metropolitan Councils work in partnership with the Aboriginal Services Network of the West, including community service organisations, together with the Aboriginal workforce and businesses, to promote civic participation and provide culturally safe programs, services and events according to Aboriginal community priorities through the Deadly Western Connections online platform.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Victoria, and recognise First Peoples continuing connection to lands, waters and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present who carry the memories, traditions, cultures and aspirations of First Peoples, and who forge the path ahead for emerging leaders.
We dedicate ourselves to working respectfully with and guided by First Peoples, and to listen and amplify the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in all areas of work
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Reconciliation Victoria acknowledges the valuable support we receive from our funding partners.
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