{"id":284229,"date":"2020-11-10T23:36:14","date_gmt":"2020-11-10T13:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=284229"},"modified":"2022-07-06T21:50:59","modified_gmt":"2022-07-06T11:50:59","slug":"always-was-always-will-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2020\/11\/10\/always-was-always-will-be\/","title":{"rendered":"Always Was, Always Will Be …"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Wakka Wakka Dancers performing on Wakka Wakka country on Tuesday at Cherbourg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

November 10, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cherbourg residents celebrated a delayed NAIDOC Day with relief on Tuesday with music, dancing and the town’s annual awards.<\/p>\n

The COVID-19 pandemic hit hard earlier this year … not through disease (thankfully) but with the lockdown which aimed to prevent the coronavirus from coming to town.<\/p>\n

No other South Burnett community had a checkpoint on their access road or required passes for the very few visitors allowed in.<\/p>\n

When the restrictions were relaxed, Cherbourg residents could start living again – and planning for a much-delayed NAIDOC Week later in the year.<\/p>\n

Most of the regular NAIDOC activities took place on Tuesday although there were all the usual warnings about social distancing.<\/p>\n

The “Cherbourg’s Got Talent” quest returned along with a host of stalls and games for the youngsters.<\/p>\n

Cherbourg Deputy Mayor Tom Langton welcomed local residents and visitors to Memorial Park, opposite The Ration Shed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Our NAIDOC theme for this year is ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’,” Deputy Mayor Langton said.<\/p>\n

“This statement is an acknowledgement and celebration that we – the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Nations people – are culturally and spiritually connected to this land. We have been caretakers for over 65,000 years.<\/p>\n

“We have experience, knowledge, history.<\/p>\n

“Thank you for coming to celebrate with our community today. This reassures me that all present are here to embrace the true history.<\/p>\n

“I encourage our youth to listen and learn from our Elders. This country always was and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land. This is our day! Enjoy!”<\/p>\n

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Cherbourg State School captains Merna Landers and Daisy Gadd did the Welcome To Country<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Talent quest winner Abbey Luke, 12, from Wattle Camp … Abbey performed a contemporary dance routine<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
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Talent quest runner-up Kellie Fisher, 9, from Cherbourg … Kellie sang Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors”<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Cherbourg Radio broadcast live from the event and livestreamed the stage activities … from left, Arlene Langton, Kimberly Barrett and Tara Priestley<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Aunty Hazel Speedy raised the Aboriginal flag during the opening ceremony<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
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There were activities for the kids … including this football passing competition<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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The three judges for the “Cherbourg’s Got Talent” quest … Sgt Rene Bond (Murgon PCYC), Elgan Saunders (CRAICCHS) and Aunty Lillian Gray<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Wakka Wakka Dancers – accompanied by some junior dancers – performed before an enthusiastic crowd<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Rocko Langton and Andrew Beckett kept the music going on stage into the afternoon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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NAIDOC Awards<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Cherbourg NAIDOC 2020 Person Of The Community Jeffrey Dynevor with his wife Lavina … Jeffrey was working at the State School when the award was presented and was stunned when he heard his name read out on the radio<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The town’s annual NAIDOC Awards were presented by Cherbourg Deputy Mayor Tom Langton, Cr Bronwyn Murray and Cr Fred Cobbo.<\/p>\n