A Ceremony of Welcome
Gathering of the Elders at You Yangs Big Rock begins Mountain to Mouth 2016 with a ceremony acknowledging the land and the ancestors in whose footsteps we walk.
Central to the ceremony, is the unveiling of Canoe - the ephemeral lead artwork that carries water from the ancient rockwell at Big Rock, along the 80 kilometre contemporary songline, to rejoin the ocean.
For this ceremony, we stand in silence, connecting to this special place, looking out across the land, acknowledging where we come from and where we will travel to from here.
Gathering of the Elders commences at 12.30pm, Friday 6 May and concludes with a rousing farewell to the walkers as they begin their journey to the river mouth at Barwon Heads.
Meme McDonald - Director
Bryon Powell - Wadawurrung elder
Choreographer
Wadawurrung Dancers
Notes
- Please wear outdoor clothes and non-slip walking shoes.
- The M~M2016 Big Rock station will be open from 12noon.
- NB. Parking will be unavailable at Big Rock car park - please allow a full 30 minutes to walk up or catch the free shuttle bus from the lower You Yangs car park. Coach travel from V-Line Geelong Station to Big Rock ($5 return) can be booked via Mountain to Mouth’s registration portal.
- Ceremonies will be filmed and photographed - please advise camera operators on the day if you do not wish to participate.
