The Yarra City Council announced this week that they are currently working with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to develop a Stolen Generations Marker in Fitzroy. The Marker and garden will be a tribute to the Stolen Generations and their families, honouring and acknowledging their struggles, as well as promoting awareness of the Stolen Generations to the wider community. The marker is set to be unveiled later in 2017.
In a statement, Yarra Mayor Councillor Amanda Stone said “The idea for the Marker came about through Council’s ongoing work and engagement with the Aboriginal community over many years. Now we’re proud to be collaborating with Aboriginal community leaders and organisations to create a tribute that will be sensitive and meaningful."
“When the Marker and gardens are completed, hopefully by the end of this year, we expect that they will become a place for quiet reflection, remembering and healing,” Cr Stone said.
Last year, the Yarra City Council put a call-out to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to develop and design the Steering Committee-managed project. The artist and exact location of the Stolen Generations Marker and garden have not yet been announced. Support the Stolen Generations Marker project and head to the Reconciliation Comedy Gala at the Malthouse Theatre on January 26. The gala will raise money for the Stolen Generations Marker project and will feature a star-studded line-up including Uncle Jack Charles, Judith Lucy, Koori Youth Will Shake Spears, Wil Anderson, Tom Ballard and Hannah Gadsby.