Five Years Standing Strong: Emceeing Belgrave Survival Day
For five consecutive years, I’ve had the privilege of emceeing Belgrave Survival Day — a powerful community gathering held every January in the Dandenong Ranges to honour the resilience, strength, and ongoing survival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Unlike Australia Day events that ignore or minimise First Peoples' histories, Survival Day reclaims space and truth. It acknowledges that we are still here. Still proud. Still leading.
As emcee, my role is to guide the day — not just with a microphone, but with care, presence, and cultural understanding. It’s more than a performance. It’s about holding space.
What Belgrave Survival Day Represents
Held annually on January 26th, Belgrave Survival Day is a grassroots event that centres truth-telling, cultural celebration, and dialogue. It features a full day of activities including:
Interviews and conversations with Elders, Traditional Owners, and local council
Live music and performance from Aboriginal artists across the state
Panel discussions and forums about community, identity, justice and future aspirations
Storytelling and ceremony that connect Country, culture and community
And, always — a spirit of celebration, resistance, and unity
It’s an event that holds a lot of emotion, but also joy. There’s laughter, music, dancing, deep conversations — and year after year, a growing audience of people showing up to listen, to learn, and to stand with us.
My Role: Emcee, Facilitator, Connector
Across the five years I’ve been involved, I’ve held multiple responsibilities:
Emceeing the full-day program, coordinating speakers, artists, and transitions
Interviewing Elders and Council members live on stage with cultural sensitivity and insight
Moderating panels and facilitating public conversations on truth-telling, survival and solidarity
Supporting the planning team and community with logistical and cultural input
These events have allowed me to bring together my skills in public speaking, cultural leadership, and respectful facilitation, and to help shape a platform that centres First Peoples voices with care and strength.
It’s also taught me a lot about community organising, emotional intelligence, and the importance of keeping space safe — not just physically, but culturally.
Why It Matters
Events like Belgrave Survival Day are essential because they create space for truth — but also for pride. They remind us that while the national conversation can often overlook or sanitise our stories, we have never stopped telling them.
Each year, as I step up to the mic, I’m reminded that the role of an emcee isn’t just to speak — it’s to listen, to hold space, and to amplify the voices that need to be heard.
If you're looking for an experienced emcee, panel host, or cultural facilitator for your event — especially one with deep roots in Aboriginal community leadership — I’d love to yarn.
Written By Shawn Andrews Buneen Director
📩 Connect with me via shawn-andrews.com
🔗 Learn more about Buneen’s work at buneen.au
