NAIDOC Week celebrations
Published on 03 July 2015
Mildura Rural City Council will join in national celebrations to recognise our local Indigenous communities as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations next week.
This year’s theme, We all Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate highlights Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ strong spiritual and cultural connection to land and sea. The theme is an opportunity to pay respects to country, honour those who work tirelessly on preserving land, sea and culture and to share the stories of many sites of significance or sacred places with the nation.
Council has joined with Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) and the Mildura NAIDOC Committee to host the official NAIDOC Flag Raising ceremony, with proceedings starting at 10 am in front of MDAS’s Orange Avenue Health Services building on Monday 6 July.
Mayor Glenn Milne said the ceremony will include Welcome to Country and a traditional smoking ceremony, starting at MDAS and then proceeding to Council’s Madden Avenue building before then marching into the City Heart.
“NAIDOC Week is an important date in our local calendar,” said Cr Milne “It represents both a symbolic and practical way to honour the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“As an organisation Council recognises the Indigenous history of our land and we know our community is richer because of the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” he said.
“The past twelve months have been significant in terms of Council’s commitment to our Aboriginal community. We formally adopted our first Reconciliation Action Plan, we’re signatories to the Racism It Stops with Me campaign and are proud to be supporting the local Indigenous round of the Sunraysia Football and Netball League (SFNL) on Saturday 18 July.”
Activities in the Mall will start at 11am on Monday with entertainment, market stalls, face-painting, environmental and historical displays, arts and crafts and of course, lots of food. Representatives from the SFNL will also be presented with their Indigenous round jumpers during the Mall activities.
“All the community is invited to attend the ceremony and the following activities in the City Heart. One of the greatest aspects of NAIDOC week is the inclusive nature of these celebrations,” Cr Milne said. “This is a whole community celebration.”
In addition to the events being held on Monday 6 July, local organisers have a host of activities running throughout the week.
From lunches, morning and afternoon teas, rugby games, Riverbank tours and Elders Story time, NAIDOC week locally is actually stretching the many activities out over more than two weeks.
“Once again NAIDOC celebrations will include a “Welcome Baby to Country” ceremony at the Mildura Arts Centre on Thursday 9 July.”
“Welcome Baby to Country” is a celebration hosted by Mildura Arts Centre and Monash University and recognises traditional owners by ensuring all new Koorie babies are traditionally ‘welcomed’ to this country and this community. It will also be followed by the launch of the Bark Canoe project at Mildura Arts Centre.
A full calendar of NAIDOC week events is available on Council’s website at www.mildura.vic.gov.au/events
ENDS
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Angela Umback
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e) angela.umback@mildura.vic.gov.au