A new public artwork, proposed to be painted on the forecourt of the Bendigo Town Hall at the top of Bull Street, will be considered by Council at its January meeting.
It is recommended the Progress Pride Flag be painted as a symbol of the City of Greater Bendigo’s support for the local LGBTQIA+ community.
The report states the City was approached by Bendigo Pride Festival organisers in February 2021 with the idea of painting a Pride Flag in a high-profile location to coincide with the 2021 Pride Festival.
The report also notes the current artwork in front of the Town Hall has come to the end of its life and considerations were already being made for its replacement. The City and stakeholders agree the Progress Flag, which also represents indigenous and multicultural people and transgender people, is the preferred flag for the artwork.
Examples of the artwork are included in the report.
The report’s recommendation is supported by previously adopted strategic plans, including:
- An action in the Council Plan (Mir Wimbul) 2021-2025 to: Explore opportunities to strengthen community engagement with the LGBTQIA+ community
- An action in the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan – Healthy Greater Bendigo 2021-2025 for: Access and inclusion for people who identify as LGBTQIA+
The report also includes reference to Greater Bendigo’s status as a Welcoming City, the first Local Government in Australia to receive this accreditation, and Council and the community’s previous support for LGBTQIA+ residents.
Council is annually involved with activities including IDAHOBIT Day (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia), Pride Month and Wear it Purple Day.
While the Bendigo electorate returned one of the highest ‘yes’ votes in Australia during the 2017 Marriage Equality postal vote, with 68.7 per cent of respondents voting ‘yes’ to legalise same-sex marriage.
To view the report, visit www.bendigo.com.au/agendas
Council meetings have moved to the fourth Monday of the month for 2022, and the first meeting will be held online on January 24. The meeting can be watched via the above link.
