Nagung-ga-yi-nhur.

How are (all of) you?

SSR warmly invite you all to our annual Rainbow Serpent Picnic. We hold this end-of-year picnic to show respect to local Indigenous culture and heritage with a focus this year on healing and connection. The picnic is a fun way to celebrate in the glow of the iconic Rainbow Serpent. Finishing the year this way will help with next year’s task of reflecting on the results of the referendum and working out how to move forward with resilience and positivity on our shared reconciliation journey in our local community.

As many of our community are still very raw from the results of the recent Referendum, we ask that campaign materials and YES T-shirts remain at home and that we all come in various bright colours of the rainbow.

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The day is a relaxed, unifying cultural event that includes:

A Dharawal Welcome by Aunty Dolly Brown
Smoking Ceremony by Dharawal man Graham Avery
Optional cultural walk around Burnum Burnum, also facilitated by Dharawal man Graham Avery
Traditional song and dance lead by Uncle Peter Williams, Dharawal Ngiyampaa Man
Live music with Uncle Col Hardy
Fun crafts and activities for all ages
Free BBQ sausage sizzle
Free native plant tube stocks

*Rainbow Serpent 2022 event - walking together*

Last year's inaugural event was a great success. In 2023 in this important year of the unfinished business of Reconciliation and healing, we invite you to join us.

In a symbolic gesture of unity, we will form a brightly coloured human chain, representing The Rainbow Serpent snaking around Burnum Burnum Sanctuary. First Nations and non-indigenous Australians all walking together as one. Be sure to wear brightly coloured clothing to participate in this flurry of colour.

Leader Article — *Last year's picnic as reported by the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader*

The following is an excerpt from the Leader article:

"Many volunteers helped make this day a successful event.

The committee said Dugnhutti, Dharawal and Yuin woman, Aunty Dolly Brown was the instigator of this event.

"Aunty Dolly cares deeply about her community and families, and is highly regarded by the brothers and sisters in the community," the committee said.

" She says, 'I hope that all who live and work on this beautiful country of the Dharawal speaking people, care for it and respect it. This includes the waterways, the land, the sea, the trees and plants, and the whole environment, as well as the animals, people, and all living things here'."

"A highlight of the day was a 'cultural tour', where Graham Avery took a large group of people on a walk and talk to see the native plants in the area explaining the ways the Aboriginal people have used these plants for many thousands of years as foods and medicines," the committee said.

"After the cultural walk, a local resident said, 'I have lived here for over 20 years, and I really wasn't aware of the rich history'."

We look forward to sharing our picnic with you.

*Registration is required for our catering and to meet the council's capacity obligations.