Community health organisations in the region came together last week in Portland, to strengthen the connection between indigenous communities in the South West.

Indigenous Elders, community members converged for the first ‘meeting of the mobs’ event, in a combined effort from local organisations Dhauwurd-Wurrung Elderly & Community Health Service (DWECHS) and Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation (which also operates out of Hamilton) along with Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative in Warrnambool and Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative from the Wimmera.

DWECHS Community Service Manager Rebecca Tobin said it was the first event of its kind they had held, to very positive feedback.

 “I think we've just seen history made because I guarantee that was the first one ever and it's not going to be be the last one,” she said.

“It was mostly an informal thing, we had a smoking ceremony and a welcome to country, and also heard from the Yoorrook Justice Commission about their truth telling.

“But the rest was a community lunch, catching up and doing whatever they want.”

“It was mostly for the elders, but we had some young ones there too, everyone loved it and the plan is now to do it yearly.”

Ms Tobin said many of the people who were there are related or have known each other for a long time, but rarely get to see one another.

“Probably the most beautiful quote from the day, I was talking to one of the ladies and she said ‘today has been brilliant, the only time we get to catch up with each other is usually at funerals so it was nice to see each other on a happy occasion.’”