Mayor's Message - Friday 27 May

This week marks National Reconciliation Week from 27 May through to 3 June.  

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. 

On 26 May we also mark National Sorry Day where Australia remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities which we now know as the Stolen Generations. 

This year’s National Sorry Day is honouring mothers who had children stolen from them.  

This day is an opportunity for all Australians to remember past mistakes and build stronger bridges for a richer, stronger future together. 

The Heritage Festival kicked off last week with many heavily moustached, tweed-clad men and elegantly dressed women spotted parading and cycling around Ballarat. The award-winning festival continues through to 29 May with a host of activities throughout each remaining day. 

The Australian Masters Rowing Championships that ended on 22 May could not have asked for a more perfect weekend with mirror calm conditions on Saturday and Sunday and Lake Wendouree looking magnificent in its autumnal splendour. 

May has been an incredibly busy time in Ballarat, but in the next few days you will be able to take a couple of minutes to sit down, have a cuppa and enjoy the ourballarat 2022 winter magazine that will be arriving in your letterbox. In it you will find a timely article about how the City of Ballarat is ramping up road repairs to keep the community safe, you will meet our new Intercultural Ambassadors, you can read about the upcoming Winter Festival ‘Skywhales: Every Heart Sings’ event and much more. 

The Winter Festival is fast approaching, and I would encourage everyone to check out the calendar of events online and to start planning with family and friends. June is lining up to be yet another fantastic month.