January 25th, 2025Ballarat’s Lake Wendouree hosts Survival Day dawn ceremony

Coming up tomorrow, Sunday January 26, Ballarat’s Lake Wendouree shoreline will once again be the venue for Ballarat’s Survival Day dawn ceremony.

The 2025 Ballarat Survival Day Dawn Ceremony will be the sixth reflection and healing event hosted by the City of Ballarat’s Koorie Engagement Action Group (KEAG) Advisory Committee in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members.

While a day of mourning and remembrance of First Peoples who fought in the frontier wars, January 26 is also a day to mark the survival of ongoing traditions and cultures.

The Survival Day Dawn Ceremony is an inclusive event, welcoming all to join in solidarity for reflection and healing.

January 26 in Australia provides an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to mourn, reflect, and for all to learn about the true history of the country.  

First Nations’ community, one and all will gather to remember, to celebrate resilience, to strengthen murrup (spirit) by practicing culture through song, story sharing and unity at this award-winning truth-telling event.   

The 2025 Survival Day Dawn Ceremony: 

When: Sunday, 26 January 2025, commencing at 5.30am
Where: View Point, Lake Wendouree

Alongside the City’s Advisory Committee, community members contributing to the event include MC Belinda Duarte AM, the Ballarat Community dance group, local song woman deborahN and choir, Alex Jameson and Ballarat youth and artist Amaiyah Edwards. 

At the close of the ceremony community attending from near and far are encouraged to stay on and enjoy a cuppa while connecting beside the ceremony sand circle as a yarning place. 

This story based on a City of Ballarat media release