On the 14th of October 2023, Australians were asked to vote on a proposal to change the wording in the constitution 'To recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.’ Only 39.9 per cent of legal votes were in favour of this change, and there was not a majority in any of the six Australian States (there was a majority, however, in the Australian Capital Territory). On the 26th June, 2023 Councillors with the The City of Greater Bendigo discussed their position on The Voice to Parliament and decided to support the Yes campaign while pledging to provide information on both sides of the debate to residents. Cr Margaret O’Rourke introduced the motion and spoke at length about the importance for Council to adopt the recommendation. “Recognising the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice in the constitution ensures that Indigenous Australians have a direct and meaningful role in shaping policies and laws that impact them'. Several Councillors voiced their concern over whether the City could formally support one side of the debate, while seeking to provide neutral information saying that it did not pass the commonsense test. These badges were collected at an event at Rosalind Park on the 27th of September, 2023 attended by Linda Burney, Minister for Indigenous Australians who addressed the crowd.Large badges with YES printed in centre. city of greater bendigo reconcilliation, dja dja wurrung

Opened on Tuesday, November 15th, 1921 the Hall was erected by the Citizens of Bendigo to commemorate the deeds of the men and women of the district who served in the Great War. Now one of the largest Memorial Museums in the country the Bendigo Soldiers Memorial is now home to a broad range of military memorabilia. Situated on the highly visible Pall Mall, the hall was redeveloped and officially reopened as a museum in 2018. Brown paper covered booklet with front cover cut out window showing the dome of the Soldiers Memorial. Inside describes the reason for the building of the Soldiers Memorial and the programme for the opening events. Mayor Holland gave a speech with the Y.W.C.A providing the afternoon tea. city of greater bendigo memorials

First held in 1972 the Bendigo International Madison is an athletics and cycling carvial which takes place in Bendigo ove the March Labour Day long weekend. Events include 400m footraces and the largest outdoor Madison event in the world. The madison is a track cycling race in which 17 pairs of riders race over a hectic 200 laps of the Tom Flood Sports Centre in Bendigo. Riders firstly try to gain a lap advantage over other teams or score sprint points during the 34 sprints dotted throughout the race. At any one time, there are riders sprinting, changing or attacking in this frantic event.Large ceramic plate with hand painted design in underglaze depicting three men bicycle racing.Front; 2009 / Bendigo International Madison Reverse; Signed Faye Brady / 09. Stamped; Bendigo Pottery / 1858 / Australiabendigo pottery, city of greater bendigo sport, city of greater bendigo tourism

The 2004 Commonwealth Youth Games, officially known as the II Commonwealth Youth Games, and commonly known as Bendigo 2004,was an international sporting event that was held from 30 November to 3 December 2004 in Bendigo, Australia. They were the second Commonwealth Youth Games, which are held every four years. Corporate gift giving plays a large part in local government diplomacy and events such as these which attract delegates from across the world are opportunities to promote and share information about a countries natural resources and arts and culture. Round, wooden platter. Circular wood inlays with metal Falklands Island shaped central motif. Natural wood finish. verso; Presented / to the / City of Bendigo / by the / 2004 Falkland Islands / Commonwealth Youth / Games Teamcommonwealth youth games 2004, city of greater bendigo sport, city of greater bendigo corporate gift

The Queen's Baton Relay has been the traditional curtain-raiser to the Commonwealth Games since 1958. It symbolises the gathering of people from across the Commonwealth. On 14 March 2005 Her Majesty placed a message in the baton at Buckingham Palace, signalling the start of a journey of almost 180,000 kilometres. The baton's journey to the opening ceremony took exactly one year and one day, arriving at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the opening ceremony of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games on 15 March 2006. It was the first baton relay to visit all 71 nations of the Commonwealth. Athletes and non-athletes alike shared the privilege of carrying the baton. In Bendigo two sites were chosen for events. Bendigo Stadium: Basketball and Wellsford Rifle Range: Full Bore Shooting.Baton in display box. Reproduction of actual object. Front panel has 36 inserts, base is narrower than top. Queens message button near top which unlike the original is not removable. Top is gold coloured, back is dark green. Box is black with black inner liner.Top of box: Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games / Queen's Baton Relaycommonwealth games 2006, city of greater bendigo tourism, city of greater bendigo sport

Peter Morley was elected to Council in 1987 and served as Mayor from 1989 - 1990. He was a supporter of restoration of the Town Hall and its use for council meetings as well as the Capital Theatre Project. In the years prior to adequate compensation for Mayors who have a hectic schedule Peter Morley who was in his early 30's when serving as Mayor noted that his own finances where impacted due to taking time off from work (as a plumber) and making financial contributions to attend events. Engraved pewter tankard with handle.Engraved on side; Presented to / The Mayor / Peter Morley / On the Occasion Of / The Official Opening Of / Tubemakers Metalcentre / 6th April 1990 On base; Selmark Pewtermayor morley, city of greater bendigo commerce

This rug was a gift and gesture of friendship from the local Muslim community to the City of Greater Bendigo. It was presented to Mayor, Cr Rod Fyffe on behalf of the people of Bendigo at a 2016 'Thank You Bendigo' dinner. In 2014 approval for a planning application from the Bendigo Islamic Association to build a community centre and mosque in East Bendigo prompted a series of public protests that captured widespread media attention. During this tumultuous period the Council identified the need for a community-wide plan to promote diversity and help address potentially divisive cultural issues. These events led to the COGB becoming the first local government area (LGA) formally accredited under Australia’s Welcoming Cities Standard. Community leaders emerged who wanted to show that the anti-mosque protesters did not reflect the views of the majority of Bendigo residents. The community lead ‘Believe in Bendigo’ movement gained momentum, and the Council and other local organisations joined forces to present a unified message that Bendigo residents do not tolerate racism. Muslims have made Central Victoria their home since the Goldrush, contributing to the community and the economy for the past 120 years. Traditional Islamic rugs, especially their patterns and motifs are intrinsically linked with the design of the Bendigo Mosque and Bendigo Islamic Community Centre providing important points of reference for the architects of the project. Typically, mosques are linked with specific cultural groups but not in the case of Bendigo where the Muslim community is made up of multi-ethnic groups. This meant the building's design was not fixed to a specific style or cultural iconography but instead needed to encompass many. The small local Muslim community selected a specific Australian architect because of their interest and knowledge of Islamic design and iconography gained through family collection of Islamic textiles. In thinking about the design of the mosque and community centre the architects wanted to acknowledge the role of Afghans in Australian history, especially tribal Afghans who helped build connections across the interior of Australia between First Nations communities, European settlers and Central Asian migrants. The gift of this Turkmen rugto the Bendigo community thus symbolises collaborative partnerships across faith and cultural groups based on friendship and mutual benefit. A Turkman rug was specifically chosen as it is the pinnacle of nomadic arts of the Islamic world. It was also important to the architects and the local Muslim community that the gift was a female artistic product as it was mainly a female Muslim architecture team that designed the mosque in Bendigo and there was a desire to select something that celebrated female artistry. This hand-woven rug is an engsi, made for a woman in preparation for marriage. Design work and weaving is a shared experience, between many generations of women and each rug hold the personal story of the woman it is made for and her family and thus holds deep symbolic meaning. There are often songs and poetry that are recited as the rug is made – helping the makers to memorisze the mathematical structure of the design. An engsi is put on the doorway to a yurt as part of a wedding ceremony. During the ceremony the groom turns the engsii upside down to check the quality of the rug makers weaving skills. The nomadic lifestyle of Yomut Turkman tribes determines the size of the rug as the loom can’t be carried. Its size is also restricted by the dimensions of the doorway of the yurt. This rug is dated as c 1880 because of the types of patterns used, the use of natural dyes (synthetic dyes were introduced to the area in 1890s) and with the smoother weaving on the back indicating the quality of craftsmanship dating to this time period. The Yomut engsi rug was made in Turkmenistan c1880 by Yomut Turkmen Tribes people and is designed to fit over the doorway of a yurt during a wedding ceremony. The main field motif is related to Turkoman jewelery design. The women and girls of the tribe spin the wool and design and weave the rugs. The men shear the sheep, dye the wool and clip the rug after it has been woven. The word “Turkoman” is thought to have been derived from Turk-iman, meaning the first nomadic Turkic tribes that began to follow Islam. Dyes used are natural including orange from madder root. bendigo mosque, bendigo islamic association, city of greater bendigo community partnerships, city of greater bendigo community groups