By KATH GANNAWAY
MORE than 80 people took part in the third Annual Walk to Coranderrk, commemorating the trek over the Great Divide by Aboriginal people in 1863.
The walk, on Saturday, 28 March, started at Commemoration Park in Healesville with the Djirri Djirri Dancers performing traditional dances and a brief talk on the history behind the walk.
The five-kilometre walk through Healesville to Coranderrk Station in Barak Lane, commemorates the trek made by Wurundjeri elders William Barak, Simon Wonga and others during early 1863 as they searched for a permanent home for their people.
The 40-strong group came from Acheron, over the Black Spur, to the Watts River and selected land at the junction of the Yarra River and Coranderrk Creek, now Badger Creek.
Wurundjeri descendent, Brooke Collins said the walk acknowledged and honoured the quest of Indigenous people to find a place of their own.
“An important aspect about this year’s walk is that even though we are focusing on Coranderrk, we were also acknowledging all Aboriginal people and that Corranderrk was one of many missions throughout Australia,” she said.
She said the walk also represented the journey into the future as Coranderrk is to be restored as a living place of belonging where everyone, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, will be welcome.
The walkers were welcomed to Coranderrk by Wurundjeri Elder, Allan Wandin and invited to take part in informal discussions and look over the displays.
Ms Collins said the day was relaxed and informal and noted one of the highlights as the opportunity for people to spend time together on Coranderrk.
She also thanked Victoria Police Aboriginal Liaison Officer, Belinda Dawson, and Healesville police who kept the walkers safe on their journey.
