NATIONAL Reconciliation Week begins Friday, running through to next Friday, and there are a handful of events planned for Glenelg Shire.

One has already run, singer/songwriter Kutcha Edwards at the Portland Arts Centre last Saturday, but the week – which this year has the theme ‘Be Brave, Make Change’ – begins in earnest with two events today.

The first of these is a ‘virtual’ breakfast hosted by Reconciliation Victoria. The online event runs from 7.30am to 9am.

It marks Reconciliation Victoria’s 20-year anniversary and representatives from the organisation will talk about its work.

To book visit the Eventbrite website and search for ‘NRW 2022 virtual breakfast’.

Two storytime events will also be held today.

The first of these is as the Portland library at 11am, with the other one at the Apex Park in Heywood at 2pm.

The latter event will see the Glenelg Libraries outreach van in action and Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Jason Walker (who designed the artwork for the van) will be the guest reader.

Saturday sees two major events in Heywood.

At 11.30am there will be a recognition walk starting from the Daly’s IGA car park followed by a flag raising ceremony and morning tea at Heywood Football Netball Club.

Then at 2.30pm the action turns to the field as Heywood and Heathmere battle for football supremacy in the Reconciliation Week game.

Next Friday, June 3, will see the launch in Portland of the new five-year Glenelg Aboriginal Partnership agreement with a community lunch event with partnership members

The public is welcome to the event which begins at 11.30am and will feature a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony as well as live music, kids activities, the new library bus open for inspection and colouring competition.

It will take place at the Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly and Community Health Service Cultural Healing Centre, Julia St.