A Ballarat indigenous leader is welcoming Australia Day celebrations but is encouraging residents to also remember the past.
There’ll be a Survival Day dawn service at Lake Wendouree on Sunday followed by the Picnic in the Park that afternoon, expected to attract 5,000 people.
The Chief of Culture at the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative, Shu Brown, says he’d like to see all Australians stand side by side.
“It would be great to stand in solidarity and togetherness and unity,” he said.
“The mourning ceremony in the morning [is] a great opportunity for everyone to come and have a listen to our stories and stand by us for the start of the day and then go and celebrate Australia Day as it is for now with your friends and your mates.”