Last Thursday 27 May, the City marked the opening of National Reconciliation Week (27 May to 3 June) at the Civic Centre in commemoration of this year's theme - "More than a word. Reconciliation takes action."
Mayor Dan Bull says the event is a testament to the City's acknowledgment and appreciation of its First Nation peoples.
"National Reconciliation Week is acknowledged across the Country in an effort to urge the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action. This year this City has ensured we are working harder to put the voices of our local First Nation peoples to the front.
"We are very honoured to have Whadjuk Noongar representatives, Vaughn McGuire and Elder May McGuire, leading the program for today's inaugural flag raising ceremony, song and storytelling. This is very special for the City of Bayswater, we are both humbled and grateful to have them share local traditional culture and knowledge with us.
"The City embarked on its reconciliation journey with the development of the Reconciliation Action Plan in 2019. This is a strategic document which is a practical plan of action, based on the three key pillars of relationships, respect and opportunities. Today's event has been built through the relationships we've formed during our reconciliation journey.
"As part of our reconciliation journey we were recently informed that Lyell Bowie, a resident from the Town of Bassendean, is the first cousin of the late Bernard Namok, the original designer of the Torres Strait Islander flag. Today, Lyell Bowie will raise that flag alongside the Australian, Western Australian, and Aboriginal flags in an inaugural flag-raising ceremony for the City, symbolising our commitment to reconciliation and unity.
The proceedings opened with a moving and personal Welcome to Country by Elder May McGuire, followed by an address from Mayor Dan Bull and the inaugural raising of the four flags. The talented children from the Morley Primary School choir then delighted all with the Wanjoo (welcome) song, composed by Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse. The morning concluded with a very special storytelling session with Elder May McGuire and Peter Phillips, who both shared their accounts of early years spent as Stolen Generation children, their paths to reunion with family and their connecting to Country. A surprise performance from Vaughn McGuire with traditional Whadjuk song "Trap Door Spider" concluded the morning.