Marrickville Town Hall lights up for Indigenous matriarchs ahead of International Women’s Day

By PATRICK MCKENZIE

Marrickville Town Hall has been lit up as part of Inner West Council’s month-long International Women’s Day celebrations.

On Friday, Marrickville Town Hall played host to projections and audio installations in recognition of Aboriginal matriarchs and custodianship over the Midjuburi precinct.

This comes ahead of International Women’s Day on Tuesday, with ‘Break the Bias’ as this year’s theme. 

The lighting took place as part of the ongoing Inner West Fest and will continue nightly until March 20, with footage that captures the voices of local Aboriginal women and shares stories from the past and the present.

“This year, we will celebrate the strong Aboriginal women who have built, led and empowered our community,” Inner West Deputy Mayor Jessica D’Arienzo said. 

“I hope everyone will join us to watch the projections on Marrickville Town Hall and listen to the voices of local Aboriginal women as they share their stories from the past and the present.”

A lighting program is also scheduled for Ashfield Town Hall from March 25 to April 10 in celebration of the Aboriginal community, significant sites and local landscapes of the Djarrawunang precinct.

Inner West Fest, an initiative created to replace larger-scale street festivals cancelled last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, continues until April 10.

Inner West Council is hosting several other First Nations-focused events as part of the Festival, including a walking tour along the Cooks River guided by local Aboriginal Elders, and an exhibition, talks and workshops on Warura (string) Theory at Petersham Town Hall with Aunty Joanne Selfe.