'Onwards and upwards': Sandon Point Survival Day grows for third year
Organisers and attendees were heartened to see growing support for First Nations communities at the significant Sandon Point site
More than 200 people gathered at Sandon Point on January 26 to learn, connect and show respect at a Survival Day event organised by Dharawal elder Uncle Peter Button. Organisers and attendees were heartened to see growing support for First Nations communities at the significant site.
Peter said the event was held on a day of mutual respect and understanding in a sacred, special space.
“It’s about the community coming together as one in the spirit of reconciliation and to learn from each other,” he says.
“A community has all types of people, and you’ve got to respect everyone.”
Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians took part in a traditional smoking ceremony and cultural dance, sharing a barbecue lunch and live music performances in the spirit of reconciliation and reflection. Gundungarra elder Aunty Trish Levett invited guests to join in the traditional dance.
"We invited the whole community – everyone – so it was all in unity to come and dance with us. It's also about healing, you know, not just for us mob, but the whole community,” she says.
"We actually had an eagle actually turn up when everyone started dancing in unity... which was really nice – that's always a great sign for us with our ancestors."
Aunty May Button was wowed by the diverse turnout and spoke on the importance of recognising the history of Aboriginal people.
“There are so many people here, all kinds of cultures. And for the very most part, everyone’s been respectful as anything. Today is all about being together, and acknowledging that we’re still here as Aboriginal people. We have survived,” she says.
“What happened in Bondi, for example, shouldn’t happen to anyone, and the biggest massacres in this country began with its own people. More and more learning about that needs to happen.”
December 2025 marked the 25-year anniversary of Sandon Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy, a place that the diverse local community fought to protect after the ancient remains of Kuradji (clever man) were found in 1998. Local elders are glad to see continued respect for the area, and welcome newcomers to learn about the sacred heritage of Kuradji Aboriginal Place.
“The skeleton that was found down there, 6000 years old… We’ve been here long before everyone came, and we’re still here,” Aunty May says.
Jason Gava, a life member of Sandon Point Boardriders who attended on the day, continuing a long-standing partnership with the Sandon Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy.
“We’re all on Aboriginal land and it’s a significant site... always was, always will be,” he says.
Uncle Peter welcomed The Sandon Point Boardriders Club to host the Kuradji Juniour Surf Competition in December as part of the anniversary celebrations.
“We’ve had a lot to do with the embassy over the years, and anything they need, we’re there," Jason says.
Tara Hodge and her daughter, Penny Towney (the Palawa/Wiradjuri host of acclaimed educational YouTube series Towney Time) were present at the event, noting the shifting tides of public engagement at Kuradji.
“It’d be the third year that Uncle Peter has hosted an event on this date, and with growing crowds, it’ll only be onwards and upwards with wider community attendance and mutual respect,” Tara says.
“Uncle Peter is a legend for this – he’s the most respectful and knowledgeable fella. There are people coming along that haven’t attended before or anything, it’s been a beautiful, respectful day.”
Help to fund connection, learning and mutual respect by donating to Kuradji Aboriginal Place. Funds are used to cover event equipment, performer hiring and promotional material; donate via the Kuradji: Keeping the Fire Burning GoFundMe page.
