By Pam Kiriakidis
A SMOKING ceremony was performed at the new Hope Street Youth refuge site on Friday ahead of the centre’s upcoming build.
Smoking ceremonies are an anicent custom among Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people, and accompanies a welcome and cleansing of the area to promote protection of visitors.
Hope Street Youth and Family Services staff, the site’s developers and parliamentarians took part in the smoking ceremony given by Senior Wurundjeri of the Kulin Nation Aunty Joy Wandin Murphy and her son Craig.
Constructed in partnership with the City of Whittlesea, the new youth centre, located at a South Morang site home to a 400-year-old ‘majestic’ red river-gum tree, will accommodate people aged between 16 and 25 needing accomodation within the community.
Hope Street Youth and Family Services chief executive Donna Bennett said the smoking ceremony was a ‘natural’ reception toward the new site, expected to see construction in mid-2024.
“I feel honoured that Aunty Joy and her son have been here to do this … it’s going to create the right comforting and protective atmosphere for when the centre is built and our young people are here,” she said.
“The Aboriginal culture is extremely important, and to be able to connect that so well through the smoking ceremony, not just for here and now but also into the future, and for our young people who will use the centre.”
Aunty Joy Wandin Murphy said the ceremonial tradition was to welcome future site users to enjoy and feel protected in the space.
“We want them to feel that they are welcome here, and when we talk about the gift of the gum leaf, from the tops of the trees to the roots of the earth, that means everything that we have to give in spirit,” she said.
“The spirit of keeping people’s hopes up, you know, enabling them to believe and trust in people and really to know what takes them on their journey in their lives.”
Part of the new site’s investment was provided by the State Government’s Youth Housing Capital Grants program to form a First Response Youth Service in South Morang.
Member for Mill Park Lily D’Ambrosio, who spoke at the smoking ceremony, said she was pleased to connect with Hope Street on the initative.
“We know that youth homelessness is a really big challenge in our local community,” she said.
“Every service, every assistance that we can provide within the community will make a difference to a lot of young people, and it’s about providing that support when they need it.”
