Kensington Reconciliation Action Group (KRAG) consists of local community members plus staff from Kensington Neighbourhood House, the Venny and members of the Kensington Association.
Established in June 2022 we are a small group, meeting monthly at Kensington Neighbourhood house on Monday’s 6pm.
We aim to be allies, as Reconciliation Victoria states, it’s up to the 97% of Victorians who are non-Aboriginal people to take responsibility for reconciliation.
In 2023 we were successful in gaining a Connected Neighbourhoods Small Grant from City of Melbourne to support our events.
Call Esther on 9376 6366 for more information or email kensingtonreconciliation@gmail.com
Our goals:
Running educational events for the Kensington community to engage in First Nations content.
Advocacy and Truth Telling through local actions.
Sharing resources amongst the group and using our meetings as learning opportunities.
We will create a welcoming place for First Nations people to feel safe but not burdened with responsibility and aim to build meaningful, collaborative relationships with First Nations people.
We have been advocating for discussion and action on the problematic honour boards in the Kensington Town Hall
In October 2022 the Kensington Association presented a petition to City of Melbourne requesting cultural sensitivity statements explaining the ANA and other Friendly Society honour boards in the Town Hall Conference room.
KRAG members separately expressed their concern about the impact of these artifacts in this room after meeting in the conference room. The petition was accepted and passed by Council at October Meeting.
KRAG members met with City of Melbourne and made suggestions on a path forward, that there should be engagement with Wurundjeri Woiwurrung Elders, along with a cultural sensitivity statement, work to make the Town Hall more culturally safe, and a broader discussion about the boards
In October 2023 City of Melbourne provided feedback on CoM actions to address the artifacts and to decolonise other aspects of the Town Hall after consulting with Woiwurrung and Bunurong Elders.
KRAG sees the Kensington Town Hall as a community site for truth-telling and cultural activities.
Past events
Ngarra (Dance) Workshop with Djirri Djirri Culutral Services
A workshop to learn about Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung dance and culture and rituals, with Dr Mandy Nicholson.
Reflection on the Voice
We held a community debrief session to reflect on the referendum result and talk about how to move forward in truth telling and reconciliation in our Kensington community.
Sessions on the Voice to Parliament
We ran multiple sessions to engage in meaningful dialogue about the 2023 referendum to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to parliament.
Reconciliation Week - Evening screening of Still We Rise, documentary about the Aboriginal Tent Embassy occupation and Q&A with producer, Anna Grieve, 29th May, 7pm, Christ Church Kensington, 76 McCracken St, Kensington
Friends of Yes Campaign Morning tea with community members invited to talk about why voting yes is important to them. Hear about way to participate in the future. 3rd June, 11am, The Venny, 85 Kensington Road, Kensington
NAIDOC Week - round table community conversation A conversation with community on the Yes Campaign on the Voice to Parliament.
We thank the many local organisations and individuals for their support:
Kensington Neighbourhood House, The Venny, The Kensington Association, City of Melbourne, Kensington Community Children’s Co-Operative.
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