b'Learning more aboutCelebrating culture love of country for reconciliationFor Reconciliation Week 2021, Uncle Ron MarksAs NAIDOC Week occurred during one of took members of our Wimmera team on aVictorias lockdowns, our AOD and Mental special tour of Southern Wotjobaluk. Health Services staff went online for their By getting out on the land, the team couldcelebrations this year. They heard from 5 explore and make connections with country.Aboriginal leaders - Uncle Ian, Uncle Eddie, This physical presence helped them understandUncle Dan, Coree and Senator Lidia Thorpe - traditional stories - and the power andon what NAIDOC means to them.importance of place for Indigenous cultures. Understanding culture and history is centralUncle Ron spoke about his years living on to reconciliation and providing culturallythe land, giving the team insight into the safe services. joys, traditions, struggles and way of life Sharing their time, energy and passion, each of his family and community.speaker spoke on what Always Was, Always Walking with Uncle Ron, taking in the nativeWill Be means to them as individuals and billabong wetland, trees, shrubs for therapeuticcommunity. purposes, and the sacred site of a BirthingIts an opportunity to celebrate who we are: tree It left me marvelling at the shelterour culture and our history, said Uncle Dan, and protection for welcoming new life, saidand acknowledge where we are and where Christine, one of our Integrated Family Servicesweve come from.team members. Weve been here for a long time and will After the tour, Uncle Ron kindly dropped intocontinue to be here for a long time.the Uniting office. Sharing tea made by a localIt was an honour to sit, listen and learn what Wotjobaluk woman, our team reflected onwe as individuals, and a community, can do what connection to country looks likeandto work towards reconciliation, Treaty and how central it is to Aboriginal cultures. national truth-telling.Gaining insight through the experience, team members found a better understanding of the cultural significance of country - something theyFind out morenow carry on through their work at Uniting.Uniting Vic.Tas Annual Report 2020-2021 37'