NAIDOC Week celebrations were held across Australia in July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This event is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life.
NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’. This committee was once responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC Week and its acronym has since become the name of the week itself.
Each year there is a different focus. The theme for 2019 was Voice, Treaty, Truth – ‘Let’s work together for a shared future’.
Local community celebrations during NAIDOC Week are often organised by communities, government agencies, local councils, schools and workplaces. This year Family Life participated in several events along the Mornington Peninsula that celebrated this important event:
- Staff attended the Frankston Mornington Peninsula Dinner Dance Gala which was held at the Mornington Racecourse. The evening included Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony, Yidaki and cultural performances as well as acknowledgement of the local community. Each year Family Life sponsors a table so community members can attend who might otherwise be unable too.
- Flag Raising Ceremonies at Willum Warrain and Nairm Marr Djambana. The theme of voice, treaty, truth was explored by Indigenous leaders and elders within the community. The leaders spoke of the need for Australian parliament to finally begin talks of a treaty with the Indigenous people and for Indigenous voices to be more prominent and accepted in this political space.
- A NAIDOC Family Fun Day was held at Nairm Marr Djambana in Frankston. Family Life had a stall at this day where we provided colouring activities for children and their families that attended. During the day, there was a traditional welcome to country and smoking ceremony that all attendees were involved in.
It was wonderful to see such large community involvement and interest in Indigenous events and culture within the Mornington Peninsula community, celebrating the importance of educating the community on Indigenous culture and the significance of NAIDOC Week.
Family Life continues to work with the Mornington Peninsula community to understand and acknowledge the Indigenous communities wishes and values to ensure they can work together and move forward as one.
To learn more information about Family Life’s involvement in NAIDOC Week, please contact Aly Madden.