General News
28 July, 2022
Aboriginal Flag flown for first time at local station
The Australian Aboriginal Flag will now be permanently flown at the Maryborough Police Station, following a special ceremony yesterday. Around 40 local police officers, members of the Indigenous community and representatives of local organisations...
The Australian Aboriginal Flag will now be permanently flown at the Maryborough Police Station, following a special ceremony yesterday.
Around 40 local police officers, members of the Indigenous community and representatives of local organisations gathered at the station for the flag raising ceremony.
The morning began with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, lead by Aunty Marilyne Nicholls, with community members, councillors, Maryborough District Health Service staff and local students taking part.
Yesterday marked the first time the Aboriginal Flag has been flown at the station and it is now a permanent fixture, which Goldfields Police Service Area Inspector Donna Mitchell said was an important step forward.
“I think there was a noticeable absence of the flag here,” she said.
“With the renewed focus on welcoming a diverse community and the idea that policing is for the whole community, this is something we identified that we needed to have here.
“To my understanding this is the first time the Aboriginal Flag has been flown here and it will be permanent.
“Often I think people from outside Central Goldfields don’t think there’s an Aboriginal community here but there is, it’s a large community and it’s important we recognise that.”
The ceremony came just a few weeks after local NAIDOC Week celebrations were held at the Maryborough Education Centre, which saw hundreds of locals attend.
It was also a special occasion for First Constable Isaac Brewster, a proud Ngarrindjeri man and one of the local station’s three Police Aboriginal Liaison Officers who engage with local Indigenous students and community members and provide support.
Recently awarded as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations in Bendigo, First Constable Brewster said having the Aboriginal Flag flown at the local station was a sign inclusion.
“Given my history and culture, I feel honoured that we now have the flag here,” he said.
“I’m trying to be more approachable in my work as Aboriginal Liaison Officer and having the flag here allows Aboriginal youth and the broader community to know that we are a welcoming station.
“We’re not just here for arresting offenders, we’re here to keep the community safe and look out for one another which I think is the reason every officer joined Victoria Police — to look out for people.”
