National Reconciliation Week 2022: Reconciliation WA and City of Bunbury launch NRW with Reconciliation Walk

Reconciliation WA and the City of Bunbury are encouraging people of the region to come together, share stories and continue the journey to reconciliation during National Reconciliation Week.

The City of Bunbury will use Thursday’s Reconciliation Walk to kick off the week, which runs from Friday, May 27 to June 3, centred around the theme “Be Brave, Make Change”.

The City said the walk would give the community the opportunity to come together, share stories and walk as one on the journey to reconciliation.

The event will start at Koombana Bay’s Wardandi Boodja sculpture before travelling along the footbridge and ending at the Graham Bricknell Memorial Music Shell.

The City said at the end of the walk there would be a flag-raising ceremony, story sharing, activities and a chance for further discussions, and to raise awareness and education around reconciliation.

Reconciliation WA — the organisation which is bringing NRW to WA — said they encourage everyone across the State to take part this year with the launch of their new-format program focusing on digital reach and regional accessibility.

The not-for-profit said the 2022 NRW theme, Be Brave, Make Change, urged Australians to create a lasting difference with brave reconciliation actions.

Reconciliation WA co-chair Carol Innes AM said the 2022 NRW theme is a strong call to action from Reconciliation Australia.

“With bravery comes big impact,” Ms Innes.

“There are big anniversaries this year in the Aboriginal rights and recognition movement — 55 years since the 1967 Referendum, 30 years since the Mabo decision, and 25 years since the Bringing Them Home Report was released.

“Be Brave, Make Change has become a reflection of how history unfolds.

“We’re standing on the shoulders of those who fought, what they fought for, we are still fighting for.

“We can’t keep saying we are going to do this.

“We need people to have the strength to be brave, to speak up, to say, ‘It’s not okay anymore’, and then to take action.”

The City of Bunbury’s Reconciliation Walk begins at 10.30am on Thursday, May 27, at Koombana Bay’s Wardandi Boodja sculpture, and ends at the Graham Bricknell Memorial Music Shell at around 12pm.