New Year's Eve candlelight walk at San Remo

The 16th New Year’s Eve Labyrinth Walk is happening on New Year’s Eve in San Remo.

The walk, on the homelands of the Yalluk Bulluk clan of the Bunurong people, celebrates the Oldest Continuous Culture on Earth and is a chance to reflect on a different Australia, where its First People can live in an equitable, fair, just, and inclusive society.

"At this time in our shared history, we need to respond to First People's invitation to walk together to build a better future by establishing a First Nations Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution,” Lorriane Rodda, event organiser said. (Read more: fromtheheart.com.au/)

Lorraine said the government's critical Nation-building work is to ensure that First People are front and centre in decision-making and advising on how to harness the goodwill in the Australian community. 

Ken Wyatt, former Aboriginal Affairs Minister, who released the cross-party study on enshrining the Voice to the Parliament is now involved in the Governments Referendum work. (Read the report: voice.niaa.gov.au/final-report)

"The art of walking a labyrinth on New Year's Eve is visualising you’re walking in the footsteps of the First People,” Lorraine said.

“Then, by listening with your heart, bring to mind the impact of colonisation and beyond on their traditional way of life, not the least the trauma to families, loss of culture and language, and the care of the land.

"Unlike a maze with many false leads and dead ends, the labyrinth has one path into the centre and the same path out, which means your thinking brain relaxes, allowing clarity and insight into your walk's intention to surface.

"People walking labyrinths often find a new perspective from a simple meditative walk; then, when integrated into their walk's purpose, they find it easier to go forward from there."

A Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony will be held before the New Year's Eve Candlelight Labyrinth Walk. 

Organisers Lorraine and Geoff Rodda, said the formal ceremony provides opportunities to walk together for a better future for First Nation people.

"The Uluru Statement from the Heart invites us to have a larger purpose in life. To be informed about the broader issues impacting First Nation people," Lorraine said.

"Listening deeply to our hearts to unfold a new vision to serve the First Australians and the nation. People often find walking meditation provides a fresh perspective on issues that enabling them to go forward.

Lorraine said the contemplation walk is to consider:

• The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the oldest continuous culture on earth, need to be acknowledged in Australia's birth certificate - The Australian Constitution.
• The Voice to Parliament, enshrined in the Constitution, enables National and Local Regional areas to provide advice and input on decisions, laws, policies, programs and services that are important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

Please, arrive well before the official ceremony that will start at 8.15pm. 

Everyone is invited to experience this ancient ceremony as an observer or to walk the Labyrinth. BYO chair or rug and a torch. This is a free, family-friendly event. The last walk starts at 9.30pm.

Directions: Drive along the unmade section of Back Beach Road in San Remo. The labyrinth is on the right alongside a row of cypress trees.

Carparking is available, and Lions picnic facilities are nearby. The Bass Coast Shire maintains the grass labyrinth.