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Declared as a ‘Day of Mourning’ in 1938 by Aboriginal leaders, 26 January is also known to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as ‘Invasion Day’ or ‘Survival Day’. However you recognise the day, here's how you can stand with First Peoples and show your solidarity at events across Victoria.
On Sunday, 25 January, there will be an Honouring the Day of Mourning event on Yorta Yorta Country in Shepparton from 5:45pm. There will also be a Reflection and Healing Ceremony at East Beach, Port Fairy with a free bush BBQ from 4:30pm.
On 26 January in Naarm, there will be a Day of Mourning Dawn Service at Camp Sovereignty at 5am. You can attend the Invasion Day Rally at Parliament House at 11am and then head to the Share the Spirit Festival in Treasury Gardens. If you’re near Essendon, Bunjil’s Marroun Healing Ceremony takes place in Woodlands Park at 5:30pm. In Melbourne's east, the City of Stonnington will be hosting a Healing Ceremony at the Malvern Cricket Ground from 11:45am.
For those on the Surf Coast, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners will lead a Pilk Purriyn Truth-Telling Event in Torquay from 5:30am. In Ballarat, you can attend the Survival Day Dawn Ceremony at 5:30am at View Point, Lake Wendouree. In Mildura, a Survival Day Walk will begin at Langtree mall stage from 11am. On Bunurong lands, head to Our Survival Day, a safe space for community including local artists, experiences, food and market stalls at The Briars in Mount Martha, from 12-5pm.
On the Bellarine Peninsula, an Invasion Day Rally will be held in Djilang/Geelong on Wadawurrung Country, setting off from the Market Square Mall at 11am. For those in the Macedon Ranges, a Survival Day Morning Reflection will be held from 9:30am at the Woodend Neighbourhood House. A celebration of First Nations culture will be taking place at the Melville Oval in Hamilton at 6pm.