Barwon Coast was delighted to see so many community members, both young, and old come together to celebrate NAIDOC week on Monday 4 July. A crowd of at least 60 people gathered on the Ocean Grove Spit for an inclusive  ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony led by proud Wadawurrung people Nikki McKenzie and Norm Stanley.

The coastal reserves managed by Barwon Coast are rich in Aboriginal Cultural Heritage with many sites of significance.  We celebrate NAIDOC Week to recognise this intrinsic connection to Country and acknowledge the contribution of the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (WTOAC) who we work closely with to manage the land, water and built environments.

The event provided a great opportunity for our coastal community to learn about First Nations culture and history and participate in celebrating the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

This was the first time we have officially celebrated NAIDOC week. We want to thank our local community and staff for supporting the event and we look forward to celebrating again next year.