The push to recognise ‘Melbourne Day’
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It’s Melbourne’s birthday today, August 30, the city turns 187, and there’s a push to celebrate it each year.
Called “Melbourne Day”, the date marks the anniversary of European settlement in 1835.
Chair of the Melbourne Day Committee, Campbell Walker, told Neil Mitchell there is some resistance to celebrating the day due to Indigenous sensitives.
“The Aboriginals who have been involved with Melbourne Day in the past, whether it be a smoking ceremony or Welcome to Country, have actually embraced it,” he said.
“And I’ve been enthused by that, and we’ve kept going, so there’s contention out there, and Melbourne Day may get stuck in the middle of it”.
Press PLAY below to hear more about the push to recognise Melbourne Day
Image: iStock by Getty