{"id":374035,"date":"2026-07-07T20:04:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T10:04:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=374035"},"modified":"2026-07-07T20:04:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T10:04:12","slug":"50-years-of-deadly-at-cherbourg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/07\/07\/50-years-of-deadly-at-cherbourg\/","title":{"rendered":"50 Years Of Deadly At Cherbourg"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Celeste Purcell and Jackson Cobbo, with Jeremy, 5, and Amelia, 2, enjoyed meeting the police horses brought up from Brisbane by Sergeant Lisa Shilton and Senior Constable Simon Shilton<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

July 7, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

A big crowd turned out at Cherbourg’s Anzac Memorial Park on Tuesday to celebrate “50 Years Of Deadly”, the 2026 theme for NAIDOC Week.<\/p>\n

Cherbourg residents mingled with hundreds of visitors at the annual celebration of arts, culture and survival.<\/p>\n

There was live music, food, stalls and the presentation of Cherbourg Council’s Community Awards (see below).<\/p>\n

The\u00a0 “Person In The Community Award” was presented to former Council CEO Warren Collins.<\/p>\n

A highlight of the morning was a performance by the Wakka Wakka Dancers.<\/p>\n

Cherbourg Elders were also recognised with a special lunch on the deck at The Ration Shed.<\/p>\n

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Mayor Bruce Simpson, his mother Cherbourg Elder Aunty Ada Simpson, and former mayor Arnold Murray cut the “50 Years Of Deadly” NAIDOC Week cake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Wakka Wakka Dancers had a lot of youngsters helping out (see Gallery Of Photos, below)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Cherbourg Mayor Bruce Simpson spoke at the opening of the NAIDOC celebrations<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Fringe Dwellers Band played some classic Murri and Koori music<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Roy McKee, from Nanango SES, with Gympie-based PLO Tia Mi Mi and Lucie Kelly, from the Department of Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Multiculturalism (DWATSIPM)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff congratulated Cherbourg on the NAIDOC celebration<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Black and Deadly … former Cherbourg mayor Arnold Murray was making sure no one forgot the NAIDOC theme this year was “50 Years Of Deadly”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Toni Phillips-Petersen, from Glass Art Dreaming, had one of the many stalls which lined Cherbourg’s Anzac Memorial Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Cr Ros Heit, Cr Deb Dennien and Cr Heath Sander<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Cherbourg and South Burnett together … Cr Daniel Weazel, Cr Jane Erkens and Cr Carla Fisher<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Aunty Andrea Collins with Aunty Ada Simpson … Aunty Ada opened the NAIDOC event with a prayer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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South Burnett and Cherbourg councillors at the NAIDOC celebrations<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Acting Inspector Chris Donovan, CEO Chatur Zala, Acting Superintendent Kelly Hanlen, Lucie Kelly (DWATSIPM) and Inspector Scott Stahlhut<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Community Awards<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Cr Carla Fisher and Mayor Bruce Simpson presented former CEO and current Corporate Services Manager Warren Collins Snr with the Person In The Community Award … Warren also compered the opening ceremony<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cherbourg Council’s annual NAIDOC Community Acknowledgement Awards were presented during a special ceremony.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The unique trophies were decorated by local artist Robert Langton.<\/p>\n

And the winners (with their citations) were:<\/strong><\/p>\n