text: Cultural Events and Significant Days - Greater Shepparton City Council
  Home > Community & Townships > Our Community's Diversity > Cultural Events and Significant Days
  Survival Day is a celebration of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's survival of a people and culture, expected to die out since British invasion in 1788. Marked by events such as the Survival Day concert first held in Sydney in 1992.
  National Apology Day is the anniversary of the formal apology made on 13 February 2008 by the Government and Parliament of Australia to Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This apology has significant importance to the stolen generations.
  EVENT: Greater Shepparton City Council in partnership with the Shepparton Regional Reconciliation Group and Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative host an annual Apology Breakfast to the mark the anniversary of Kevin Rudd's 2008 apology to the stolen generations.
  Diversity Week occurs in March each year to celebrate the cultural diversity which makes up our country and local communities. A variety of events occur during this week throughout Greater Shepparton to celebrate our rich cultural diversity.
  EVENT: Greater Shepparton City Council in partnership with many organisations launches the week and celebrates the fundamentals of the week and Harmony Day. Council releases a 'Calendar of Events' through our promotion, which details any events throughout the region.
  Harmony Day is on 21 March and is a day of cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home, it celebrates the cohesive and inclusive nature of our Country. Harmony Day began in 1999 as a way to promote a tolerant and culturally diverse society and is an opportunity for everyone to come together and participate in local activities. Orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Day, wearing orange clothing and/or the distinctive orange ribbon is a great way to show support for cultural diversity within the community and Australia.
  Converge on the Goulburn is an annual family friendly event that provides an opportunity for cross cultural sharing, celebration and connection for the community. It's a chance for all of Greater Shepparton's communities to showcase their culture and talents including music and dance as well as traditional foods and crafts.
  National Close the Gap Day is to highlight the health and life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and non Aboriginal Australians.
  Its aim is to highlight the gap and encourage work toward closing the gap.
  National Close the Gap Day is held on the first Thursday in March.
  EVENT: Each year in partnership with the Shepparton Region Reconciliation Group and Rumbalara Aboriginal Co Operative Council host an annual flag raising ceremony to commemorate National Sorry Day.
  National Reconciliation Week was initiated in 1996 and is held from the 27 May to 3 June each year and marks two important dates in Australian history. 27 May is the date that the 1967 referendum was passed to change the constitution to recognise Aboriginal people as full citizens of Australia the 3 June marks the anniversary of the Eddy Mabo case where in 1992 the High Court recognized that Indigenous people had a right to Native Title. This overturned the myth that Australia was 'terra nullius' prior to European settlements in 1788.
  The week is a time to reflect on achievements so far and the things which must still be done to achieve reconciliation. National Reconciliation Week offers people across Australia the opportunity to focus on reconciliation, to hear about the cultures and histories of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to explore new and better ways of meeting challenges in our communities.
  Reconciliation week is acknowledged by the Greater Shepparton City Council by flying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flag, in conjunction with the Australian National Flag on the Council's two main flag stations and specially designed flags at town entrances.
  EVENT: Council works in partnership with the Shepparton Regional Reconciliation Group and Rumbalara Aboriginal Co Operative to provide community activities during Reconciliation Week such as a flag raising ceremony and Aboriginal film nights.
  Refugee Week is always held from Sunday to Saturday of the week which includes the June World Refugee Day. Refugee Week is Australia's peak annual activity to raise awareness about the issues affecting refugees and to celebrate the positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society.
  EVENT: Greater Shepparton City Council in partnership with many local organisations organise a launch for Refugee Week with a free event that includes entertainment, food and information. Council releases a 'Calendar of Events', which details any events throughout the region.
  NAIDOC Week is observed from the first Sunday in July to the second Sunday in July each year. NAIDOC celebrations are held around Australia to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The week is celebrated not just in the Indigenous community, but also increasingly in government agencies, schools, local councils and workplaces. Wherever you live, taking part in NAIDOC Week is a great way to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to build bridges between all Australians. NAIDOC originally stood for 'National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee'. This committee was once responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC Week, and its acronym has become the name of the week itself.
  NAIDOC week is acknowledged by the Greater Shepparton City Council by flying the Torres Strait Islander Flag in conjunction with the Aboriginal Flag and Australian National Flag on Council's two main flag stations.
  EVENT: Greater Shepparton City Council has continued to partner with many organisations to support NAIDOC celebrations and raises community awareness of this significant week by flying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags and specific flags at town entrances.
  National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day (NAICD) is an annual event celebrated on 4 August each year, having been established by the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) in 1988. Each year, SNAICC has a theme for Children's Day to highlight a significant issue, concern or hope for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
  St George's Road Food Festival
  St George's Rd is a hub for many communities in Greater Shepparton and surrounding areas to buy food and materials that are native to their home countries.