Survival Day Dawn Ceremony

For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Australia Day is recognised as Survival Day or Invasion Day.

This ceremony is to commemorate Sovereign First Peoples who fought in the frontier wars and those who died in widespread massacres that occurred across Australia during colonisation which began on January 26th, 1788.

Despite colonisation, discrimination and comprehensive inequalities, we continue to practice our traditions, look after the land and make our voices heard in the public sphere. We survive.

This Survival Day Dawn Ceremony is a respectful and meaningful way (just as ANZAC Day Dawn Service is important to many Australians) to acknowledge people who fought for a better life for us today.

We hope to bring community together to start the day off in a meaningful, healing and respectful way, on what may be a very difficult day ahead for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

Everyone is welcome.

Let’s stand in solidarity to peacefully reflect.

The ceremony will MC’d by Belinda (Jakiel) Duerte.

Feel free to contact Nikki Foy on 0407 921 222 with any questions. This is a first for Ballarat and we hope to build on the event through the support of our partners and our community.