We welcomed employees, community partners and guests to our Geelong depot for a special NAIDOC celebration, recognising the rich cultures, histories and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and reflecting on the importance of reconciliation. The event featured a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, cultural learning, guest speakers, a collaborative art activity and opportunities for connection and conversation.
The morning began with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony led by Aunty Melinda Kennedy, who shared stories and insights into Wadawurrung culture, history and Country, helping attendees deepen their understanding of the land on which we gathered.
“When we share our culture, we create understanding and connection. Events like this give us the opportunity to explain our traditions, welcome people to Country and help others learn why these practices are so important. It’s wonderful to come together in this way and share that experience with the community,” said Aunty Melinda Kennedy
Guests then heard from speakers from our management, our workforce and community organisations. Through their stories and experiences, they highlighted the importance of respect, inclusion and learning from First Nations peoples, while recognising the role public transport plays in connecting people and communities.
Nick Yap, CEO, ComfortDelGro Australia reflected on the day and shared, “As a community transport operator, we have the privilege of serving people from all walks of life every day. Our reconciliation journey is about recognising and respecting First Nations peoples, learning from the communities we serve, and creating an environment where everyone feels welcome, valued and connected. Those learnings help us build stronger relationships across all the communities we support.”
Paul Giusti, CDC Victoria General Manager of Operations, reflected on the importance of community connection and the role CDC plays every day and mentioned, “At CDC, connecting communities is at the heart of what we do. Every day, we help people get to school, work, appointments and home again. Our Reconciliation journey is about more than a plan on paper – it’s about how we show respect, create belonging and make every person feel welcome and valued when they travel with us.”
A standout moment of the day was the collaborative artwork activity led by Wadawurrung artist Aunty Dr Deanne Gilson. For many employees, it was their first opportunity to contribute to a shared cultural artwork, making the experience both memorable and meaningful.
Staff and guests were invited to add their own personal touch to the piece, with each contribution representing a connection to the day, the community and our shared commitment to reconciliation. The activity sparked conversation, reflection and creativity, with many participants taking great pride in leaving their mark on a work that was created collectively.
“Every person who contributes to this artwork becomes part of its story. Together, it represents community, shared experiences and the connections we build through understanding and respect,” said Aunty Dr Deanne Gilson.
The finished artwork is a powerful symbol of connection and collaboration and will now be proudly displayed at the Geelong Depot as a lasting reminder of the event and everyone who came together to make it possible.
We extend our sincere thanks to Aunty Melinda Kennedy, Aunty Dr Deanne Gilson, our guest speakers, community partners and everyone who attended. Through events like these, we continue to learn, listen and strengthen our relationships with First Nations peoples and communities.
Artist summary of the artwork by Aunty Dr Deanne Gilson:
Wadawurrung people were known as the water people. On reflection of this, I realise that we are all made up of water and we are all connected through water. As a result, the blue portion of the CDC logo and background colours of the painting, really resonate these connections.
A large traditional diamond pattern and several meeting circles are placed over the landscape. The orange and blue diamond pattern represent water and Country combined. The orange being the earth and the blue water. The diamond pattern was used by my Wadawurrung ancestors as a map, with all the points of the diamond going in all different directions, like buses and people riding with CDC. The campsites, or circles, represent the different depot locations of CDC throughout Victoria.
A large red river gum tree, sits in the foreground. This tree marks the beginning point of travel. People are depicted as a (u) symbol, sitting around the tree. Many different shapes, colours and people are represented here. The diversity brings the joy of travel, meeting new people, having meaningful conversations with people, helping people and realising we are all here together and all wanting the same things out of life. A safe place to live, a safe place to travel and being part of community.
To complete the painting, staff added many local Indigenous bush plants, like the murnong daisy, fish (a land of plentiful foods), Winter orchids, depicting the changing six Wadawurrung seasons and the stars that sit above the You Yangs, a sacred ceremonial place for Wadawurrung people.
As the sun sets over the Bay, Bunjil the Eagle flies up towards the night sky, about to transform his family into stars, where they watch over us today. Waa, our ancestral Crow keeps an eye on things from the ground, birds carry messengers and often fly next to buses. They are often noted by people travelling, including myself, as time passes when travelling.
