Celebrate NAIDOC Week
Explore Councils by state
Posted on July 3, 2019
Alwyn Doolan during his Message Stick Walk. Photo Credit: Jenae Jenkins, ABC Wide Bay
Central Highlanders will join the nation in celebrating this year’s NAIDOC Week, which runs from 7-14 July 2019.
This year’s theme – ‘Voice, Treaty, Truth’ – invites Australians to work together for a shared future, recognising the importance of our country’s Indigenous voice and the need for a substantive treaty with the Federal Government.
Central Highlands Regional Council Mayor Kerry Hayes said NAIDOC Week is an opportunity to celebrate and embrace our community’s rich Indigenous culture.
‘Our incredibly unique and diverse region has been home to First Nation peoples and their traditional owners for thousands of years,’ he said.
‘Their stories are our stories. Their history is our history, and we all need to own it. Then we can move forward together.’
Mayor Hayes said celebrations would be held across the region to mark the important annual movement, in line with council’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan 2019-2020.
‘Community groups and council have organised a range of activities for our communities to take part in this month, including the much-anticipated Many Mobs Festival at the Emerald Skate Park,’ he said.
‘We will also have a very special visitor at the Blackwater ceremony, with Gooreng Gooreng and Wakka Wakka man Alwyn Doolan set to speak. Alwyn grew up in Woorabinda and spent a year walking 8000 km from the tip of Queensland to the steps of Parliament House to collect messages of reconciliation from 50 Indigenous nations.
‘He is an incredible inspiration and we feel very fortunate that he would come and share his message with us here in the Central Highlands. I encourage everyone to get involved in NAIDOC Week where they can and be a part of this important step in our reconciliation journey.’
For more information call 1300 242 686 or visit www.centralhighlands.qld.gov.au
NAIDOC Week Celebrations
Emerald:
3 – 26 July | Indigenous art exhibition at the Emerald Art Gallery 7 July | Many Mobs Festival at Emerald Skate Park, 10.30 am to 8.00 pm 11 July | NAIDOC Morning Tea at Emerald Council Office, 10.30 am 16 July | Elders lunch, invitation onlyBlackwater:
26 July | Street march and official ceremony (including flag raising & refreshments), 9.30 am assembly at Lions Park with march commencing at 10.00 am