We-Akon Dilinja
The Boonwurrung Land and Sea Council, in partnership with City of Port Phillip, will be hosting the annual We-Akon Dilinja (Mourning Reflection) on Sunday 26 January 2025 at Alfred Square, St Kilda.
2025 ceremony
The theme for 2025 is ‘Reflect, Respect, Celebrate’.
The Boonwurrung Land and Sea Council invited all members of the community to join the dawn ceremony to reflect, respect, and celebrate together. The ceremony featured musical performances and a smoking ceremony, and was live streamed which you can watch below.
This ceremony was presented by the Boonwurrung Land and Sea Council, in partnership with City of Port Phillip, and supported by the National Australia Day Council.
2025 Program
- Introductory Performance
- Didgeridoo Player - Kiernan Ironfield
- Boonwurrung Welcome Song - James Henry
- A Homage to the Boonwurrung People - Fay Stewart Muir OAM – Boonwurrung Elder
- Performance - John Wayne Parsons
- Reading Josh Burns MP
- Performance
James Henry and Melbourne String Ensemble alumni.
Piper Carter-Williams (violin); Pascal Uxo Williams (viola);
Harriet Carter-Williams (cello) - Reading - Cr Louise Crawford, Mayor, City of Port Phillip
- Boonwurrung Keynote Address
- Closing Performance
- Smoking Ceremony - led by Willie Pepper
Previous ceremonies
Assisted by the Australian Government through the National Australia Day Council