July 8, 2018
NAIDOC Week is being celebrated around Australia from July 8-15, and a number of South Burnett towns have special events planned to mark the occasion.
NAIDOC celebrations are held every July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year’s NAIDOC theme – “Because Of Her, We Can!” – celebrates the essential role women play as active and significant role models in Indigenous communities at local, State and national levels.
Events in the South Burnett kicked off on Sunday with a Community Open Day at the recently upgraded Les Stewart Sports Complex at Cherbourg.
On Monday, the annual Cherbourg Council NAIDOC Community Acknowledgement Awards ceremony will be held from 10:30am at the Winifred Fisher Indigenous Knowledge Centre in Cherbourg.
There’ll be activities for the children as well as traditional dancing and a free barbecue lunch.
Cherbourg will hold its annual NAIDOC Community Day in the park opposite The Ration Shed Museum in Barambah Avenue, Cherbourg between 10:00am and 2:00pm on Tuesday, July 10.
This popular event will feature dancing, a sausage sizzle, activities for children, stalls, music and more, and everyone is welcome.
There’ll also be a talent quest for singers, actors, comedians and musicians that promises to be a lot of fun.
The South Burnett Regional Council is supporting NAIDOC Week again this year with a celebration at the Kingaroy Town Hall Forecourt on Thursday (July 12) from noon-2:00pm.
Guest speaker will be Kabi Kabi artist Max Conlon and there’ll be dancing and children’s activities.
There’ll also be demonstrations of emu egg carving, Dreamtime story telling for children, free cake, a sausage sizzle, damper, tea and coffee.
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A free Community Day will be held at QEII Park in Lamb Street, Murgon from 10:00am to 2:00pm on Wednesday, July 11 to celebrate NAIDOC Week.
The event is being organised by CRAICCHS and it will feature an official opening, Welcome to Country, traditional dancing displays, a cake cutting ceremony and live entertainment.
There’ll also be several readings during the morning outlining NAIDOC’s history from 1920 up to the present day.
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The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service is also planning four NAIDOC activities in the South Burnett:
- July 10 at Cherbourg Hospital – 10:00am-2:00pm – Wakka Wakka dancers, health and community stalls, free lunch provided
- July 12 at Wondai Hospital – 9:30am-noon – Wakka Wakka dancers, Cherbourg Child Care performance, craft display, free community lunch
- July 13 at Nanango Hospital – 10:00am-noon – Wakka Wakka dancers, cake cutting ceremony, morning tea provided
- July 17 at Murgon Hospital – 10:00am-2:00pm – Wakka Wakka dancers, health and community stalls, free lunch provided
