Gloria Bell, from Cherbourg’s “Many Threads” group, was serving up pork and porcupine at the Elders’ Lunch
July 12, 2018
NAIDOC Week celebrations are a great time for people to get together, have fun and celebrate culture … so it’s always a very busy time at Cherbourg!
The town’s NAIDOC community day activities – held on Tuesday in the park near the Anzac Memorial – included traditional dancing, children’s activities, hot food and drinks, and a very popular live talent quest.
Videos were also shown of strong, local women, highlighting the 2018 NIDOC theme: “Because of her, we can”.
The Ration Shed hosted an Elders’ Lunch on the expanded balcony, which featured bush tucker, pork, roast vegies and damper.
The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service also put on a range of activities for the young and young at heart in the grounds of Cherbourg Hospital, plus another sausage sizzle, health checks and free flu shots.
Information stalls from a range of local organisations also dotted the area.
NAIDOC Week activities in the South Burnett continued on Wednesday, with more stalls, food, traditional dancing and activities in QEII Park in Lamb Street, Murgon.
This event was organised by CRAICCHS, the Cherbourg Regional Aboriginal and Islander Community-Controlled Health Services.
On Thursday, the focus will turn to Kingaroy with a range of activities in the Kingaroy Town Hall Forecourt 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.
William “Jimbally” Walsh, from Murgon, sung the Yothu Yindi hit “Djapana” in the Cherbourg’s Got Talent questGreg Cobbo, centre, was the first entrant in the Cherbourg’s Got Talent quest … Aunty Lillian Gray was the compere, and Andrew Beckett, right, was looking after the soundThe NAIDOC celebrations were a perfect excuse for a family reunion for the Law family … from left, Torue Palm, Murgon; Patricia Pedro, Torres Strait; Keli Law-Palm, Murgon; Eric Law Jnr, Murgon; Niketa Law, Murgon; Makayla Palm, Gold Coast; and Shirley Law, Cherbourg
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Because Of Her We Can
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Children enjoyed exploring the Cherbourg fire truck (and its siren)
Cherbourg Mayor Arnold Murray broke bread at the Elders Lunch at The Ration Shed
QFES Area Commander Mark Long, from Kingaroy, with Cherbourg firefighters Shamus Cobbo and Daniel CobboRocko Langton and Les Stewart were relaxing and listening to the live musicAunties Ada Simpson and Grace Stanley were also enjoying watching the talent questCatching up at NAIDOC Day were Joan Nielsen, from Goomeri; and Sharon Purcell and Daisy Alberts, from CherbourgKimberley McCullagh and Rosetta Harrison, from South Burnett CTC’s Partners In Foster CareWayne Farrell, from the Cherbourg Men’s Shed, with Dallas Robinson and David Johnstone, from Queensland HealthMargaret Cobbo and Santina Schmocker, from Nurunderi TAFEMichelle Barbeler, Jacqui Smith and Suzette Andrewartha, from Dental Health Services, Kingaroy … the mobile van is currently located in CherbourgJacqui O’Chin and Mel Best, from Queensland Health, were working hard at the barbecue in the health service groundsPart of the large crowd gathered in the centre park for NAIDOC celebrations … there were more people over at The Ration Shed, in front of the stage, and in the hospital grounds where the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service had a range of activities