Corinna Eccles’ everyday experience of Geelong provides on-going opportunities to reflect on her sense of belonging.
A proud Wadawurrung woman, whose heritage has been embedded in our region for tens of thousands of years, Corrina speaks with an authentic passion of her sense of connection to the striking landmarks that characterise our ancient, yet rapidly evolving, region.
I am blessed that I live on My Country, I know who I am and where I belong.
Many First Nations people are still finding their connection; my hope is for all future generations to be able to be proud to acknowledge their identity and it be respected and not challenged.
A recipient of the Committee for Geelong 2022 ‘Frank Costa Leadership Award’, Corrina has devoted herself tirelessly to preserving and sharing the culture and traditions of the Wadawurrung people.
Now, as she continues her promotion of reconciliation and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, Corrina welcomes the opportunity to support the City as we embrace continued development through a First Nations’ lens.
Wadawurrung Country is over 100 million hectares; extending from the Great Dividing Range north of Ballarat, stretching from the Werribee River to the coastal waters directly south and east of the You-Yangs.
Much of Wadawurrung Country encompasses the City of Greater Geelong.
Our people’s knowledge, language and footprints have been grounded deeply in this land for tens of thousands of years, and there are over 5000 sites that demonstrate evidence of our people living for thousands of generations.
Now, with ever-increasing recognition, Traditional Owners are supporting the City; imparting a cultural awareness that will inform Council decisions, providing an influence on how our region will look in the future.
Recent City of Greater Geelong developments speak to the region’s First Nations’ heritage, as we continue to work with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners to learn more about sites of particular significance.
Our recognition of the Traditional Owners extends to numerous recent naming protocols, among them our new civic precinct that opened in 2022, ‘Wurriki Nyal’.
Wurriki Nyal’ comes from the Wadawurrung words ‘speak and talk together.
Corrina is the General Manager of the cultural strengthening team for the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation
I am appreciative of being able to work with family and for family carrying cultural responsibility.
From our Ancestors that walked before us, our Elders of today, through to the continuing generations, we’re committed to our present and future.
I am passionate about, and committed to, making a better future for First Nation’s people; for the children of our community to know their culture and identity.
In working with the City of Greater Geelong, I welcome the opportunity to help every member of our region to better understand Wadawurrung Country and build recognition and understanding of our First Nations community in the region.
Download a copy of our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan.