Albert Salt, Matahara, BLESSED, Marshall Stannus, Chores/LÂLKA and Kinkora. Photos supplied.

Looks like Victoria is set to (mostly) open up, which is undeniably great. I’m happy, and I’m privileged enough to be excited by this news. I have my health, I’ve been able to continue working and I have a lovely girlfriend and puppy who love me as much as I love them.

I saved this article for a Monday because I thought we’d be opening up today, and I was right. However, I wanted to draw your attention to the below tweets:

Think how long the last 100 days has felt. Now compare that to 800 years of connection to this sacred site. You can't condemn the Juukan Gorge blast and give this desecration a free pass. https://t.co/lmjmMwofiS
— Bogeyman Killah 👻 (@BenjaminMillar) October 26, 2020

The Andrews government has used today as a political distraction from the desecration of a sacred Djab Wurrung women’s site, to silence the voices of Djab Wurrung mob, women and allies. It is completely sinister. While the colony is celebrating, mob are in mourning.
— Madeline Hayman-Reber (@MadelineHayman) October 26, 2020

I thought for a moment today that I could cry overwhelming tears with other people living in Victoria who roughed it out in a very long and hard lockdown because I played my part and I sacrificed too

...and then I was reminded that we don’t matter to the colony. pic.twitter.com/rJrt0y6AEj
— Meriki Onus (@MerikiKO) October 26, 2020

Just for a bit of background - the tree in question is the sacred 350-year old Djab Wurrung Directions Tree. Police, on the same day restrictions were eased, removed people from the protest camp. People have been protesting for more than a year, as a Western Highway upgrade project would see sacred 800-year-old birthing trees destroyed.

Instead of re-directing the highway, the Victorian government used today to remove something sacred to local First Nations groups. If you’re looking for more information, this SBS article is very helpful.

I’m appalled by this. It shouldn’t just be up to the First Nations people in Victoria to speak out about this. If you can smash out 10+ coronavirus Tweets a day, then you can take some time to educate yourself about something that might not directly affect you, but does direct a big part of the community.

Victorians want to preach all about love and care for all, so it’s time to back up your words. I don’t like to get preachy too often, but I think this is an absolute travesty. Shame on all those who made this decision.

Here are the articles I wrote this week - I wrote about Albert Salt, BLESSED, Marshall Stannus and Kinkora, and interviews Matahara and Chores/LÂLKA. Have a read, and as always, let me know what you think.

Albert Salt’s New Single ‘25’ Will Get You Thinking About Your 20s

INTERVIEW: Matahara Says Her New Song ‘Missify’ Is Like Paul Rudd

BLESSED Will Get You Thinking About Past Loves With ‘Bonnie Killed Clyde’

PREMIERE: Marshall Stannus' ‘Twenty-One’ Washes Away Your Blues

INTERVIEW: Chores And LÂLKA Explain How Their Collab ‘Tremble’ Came About

Kinkora's ‘You Got Me’ Is A Reminder Of What’s Really Important