THE Aboriginal Health Council of WA holds out hope the City of Perth will change its mind about sponsoring the Carols in Whadjuk City event.
The City’s sponsorship committee recently resolved to recommend Council reject the group’s application for $20,000 in funding for the Christmas concert.
Aboriginal Health Council CEO Des Martin told the Guardian Express he was disappointed by the recommendation from the committee.
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READ NOW“We had planned this event as a warm and welcoming event for people of all ages and backgrounds,” he said. “We haven’t yet been provided with any feedback on why our application received a recommendation to be turned down.”
The Council will vote on the sponsorship on Tuesday, June 7.
Christmas in Whadjuk City: Carols by Candlelight is planned for Saturday 3 December in Wellington Square.
The event aims to be an inaugural Christmas Celebration with a focus on local Aboriginal Health culture and promotion. The event will have the key theme of reconciliation and will be strictly drug, alcohol and smoke free.
It will begin at 4pm with a family-friendly health expo with interactive stalls from relevant organisations, interactive activities for children, and a local Aboriginal art and craft market, followed by a Welcome to Country, health promotion messages, dance performances, guest speakers, Christmas Carols by local Aboriginal musicians and an appearance by Santa.
Mr Martin said the Council “looks forward to learning more and working with the City to see if they will sponsor next year’s event”.