The decision to continue Australia Day celebrations means the council Australia Day Eve event in Daylesford will run next year. 

A council report proposed some changes to the Australia Day Eve event, including involvement of the Dja Dja Warrung and increasing the prominence of Hepburn Citizen of the Year Award. 

Councillors first decided to review arrangements for Australia Day celebrations at a meeting in February, noting the negative impact commemoration of this day has on the Indigenous community. 

Work on developing a Reconciliation Action Plan is now underway and is expected to be completed in 2018. The plan will include advice on the best date to celebrate Australia Day and how celebrations can be inclusive of Indigenous Australians. 

Hepburn Shire Councillor Kate Redwood said the February decision to review Australia Day arrangements continued to form the basis of a respectful conversation in the shire. 

“There is no intention among any of us (councillors) to move ahead of what is the prevailing view in our communities,” Cr Redwood said. 

“There does need to be a continued respectful conversation with the Dja Dja Warrung. It is not intended at all to upset anybody, but it is a very important conversation for us to have.”

Members were appointed to the Reconciliation Action Plan Community Reference Group at a council meeting last week. 

The group, representing the Indigenous community, will assist in the development of the Reconciliation Action Plan.

Cr Don Henderson said it was important to note local governments could not change the date of Australia Day, but only decide what events are run or supported on the day.