COVID-19 and the Mornington Peninsula’s Community Vision have guided our approach to Australia Day 2022.
Last year COVID-19 prompted us to reimagine our traditional Mornington Park Australia Day event, with the new program of activities and entertainment well-received by locals, visitors and businesses. Council has opted for a similar approach this year.
We have provided funding for Mornington Chamber of Commerce to deliver a full weekend of music, arts activities and family-friendly entertainment. This programme will feature mostly local artists and musicians and will help support our arts sector through the pandemic.
The action will take place along Main Street, which has once again been opened to pedestrians and closed to traffic over summer to enable outdoor dining and help promote the economic recovery of our local food businesses.
Elsewhere on the Peninsula, COVID-19 means community-organised Australia Day events at Rye, Dromana and Rosebud will not go ahead.
Council is providing support for community-led Australia Day events at Mount Eliza, Hastings and Sorrento, which will go ahead as usual.
The Community Vision, presented to Council in July last year, emphasises honour and respect for the Peninsula’s Traditional Owners, the Bunurong people, and the importance of safe, accessible, inclusive spaces for all.
To honour this vision, Council has supported an event at The Briars titled Our Survival Day 2022 – Reconnection, an Indigenous-led community event providing a safe and culturally empowering space for First Nations people and their allies to gather on 26 January.
Our overall approach to Australia Day and the funding of events will be reviewed later this year and a fresh approach to Australia Day is expected to be in place by 2023.
