The Service is an annual Victorian event held during National Reconciliation Week on 31 May at the Shrine of Remembrance.
Watch the live stream
About the Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service
Aboriginal people have served in every conflict and peace keeping mission involving Australia for more than a century. For many years the service and sacrifice of Aboriginal service men and women had not been adequately recognised and commemorated.
In 2006, the late Aunty Dorothy ‘Dot’ Peters AM (1930–2019), sought to change this and initiated the honouring of Aboriginal service men and women in Victoria. In 2007, the first Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service was held at the Shrine of Remembrance.
In the spirit of Aboriginal self-determination, the Victorian Government is working alongside the Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Committee to deliver the Service. The Service gives Victorians an opportunity to come together to honour and recognise the sacrifices and invaluable contributions of Aboriginal service men and women to Australia’s Defence Force.
Aunty Dot Peters' Wreath
The gum leaf wreath artwork by Nina Kelabora is inspired by the late Aunty Dot Peters AM, who laid a gum leaf wreath at the Shrine each year. The colours of the leaves are the same as those found in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags. Individual leaves, sitting side by side, proudly represent Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal soldiers who have served and continue to serve as equals in the Australian Defence Force.
Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Committee
The committee:
- provides advice to the Victorian Government on issues of Aboriginal service recognition in Victoria
- assesses applications for the Aunty Dot Peters Award.
2020 virtual service
In 2020 the 15th annual Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service was delivered virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions. Download the 2020 event booklet which includes the order of proceedings:
Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service 2020 - Service booklet
Reviewed 30 May 2022