Berry Street holds Wurundjeri cultural ceremony to open new office
Aboriginal community
In the spirit of reconciliation, Berry Street held a Cultural Ceremony to open our new head office on Wurundjeri Country (Richmond).
Traditional Custodian and Wurundjeri Elder, Uncle Colin Hunter, marked the special occasion with a Smoking Ceremony and a warm Welcome to Country, welcoming us to his land and the land of his ancestors.
The cultural significance of the ceremony was embraced by all attendees, including members of Berry Street’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee and Board, and office staff.
It is important that as we expand our learning that we never forget whose land we are on in this office. The beautiful lands of Uncle Colin Hunter and his ancestors.
We thank Uncle Colin Hunter and the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation for their ongoing support and guidance on our reconciliation journey. We acknowledge the great privilege we have to work alongside members of the longest-living, continuous culture in the world.
Wurundjeri culture displayed throughout the office
“This is a really significant occasion for Berry Street; for the first time in our 145-year history, we’re in a building designed to embrace the spirit of our reconciliation commitments and to include truth-telling, cultural safety and connection to culture, country and community. These are the foundations of our Reconciliation Action Plan,” said Dr Flynn, Board President.
Visitors to our new Berry Street office are greeted with the Woi Wurrung word ‘Wominjeka’, which means both ‘welcome’ and ‘to come with purpose’, a fitting reminder to all who walk through our doors.
Berry Street staff engaged and worked closely with the Woi Wurrung Wurundjeri Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Cooperation to gain permissions to name the office meeting rooms in traditional language.The Wurundjeri rooms proudly displays ‘Beautiful Country’, a painting by Wurundjeri artist Brenton Brown. Brenton said that his painting depicts his people “hunting for food on traditional ground, to gather and appreciate what our vast land has to offer.”
We are proud to display Wurundjeri cultures throughout the office to honour the beautiful land on which our new office uses.
“It’s wonderful to see the Aboriginal cultural representation around the office and to think about what we can all learn, especially those of us who aren’t as well-versed in Aboriginal culture as we need to be as citizens of this country,” said Dr Flynn.
Reconciliation at Berry Street
Berry Street is deeply committed to reconciliation, 365 days a year. Our vision for reconciliation is an Australia where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families have the same life opportunities as all Australians.
In November 2020, Reconciliation Australia endorsed Berry Street’s first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Currently, Berry Street is in the development phase of our Innovate RAP and we continue to work under the guidelines of our Reflect RAP.
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