It is special time on our calendar as the City of Greater Geelong celebrates NAIDOC Week.
NAIDOC Week commemorates the culture, history, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and is observed across Australia in multiple places of work, schools, and tiers of government.
It is an occasion that continues to grow in stature, and I am proud that council is partnering with our First Nation communities again this year.
NAIDOC Week allows residents to get to know our region’s First Nations communities in a more meaningful manner and celebrate their significance.
The theme for NAIDOC Week is ‘For Our Elders’, which pays tribute to the vital role that Elders have played and continue to play within First Nations communities as trailblazers, nurturers, advocates, teachers, survivors, leaders, and cherished individuals.
As a Council we are proud to be listening to, recognising and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We did this recently at our ‘The Heart – A Shared Journey’ event, which brought Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, First Nations community elders and representatives from Reconciliation Victoria together at Wurriki Nyal.
And we have delivered more events and activities across the region during NAIDOC Week this year.
This week I have had the pleasure of attending several events, including a family-friendly gathering at Narana, which connected newly-arrived culturally and linguistically diverse families to First Nations culture, as well as the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative’s Flag Raising and Community Day.
There are still a number of different ways you can get involved too, including visiting the stunning First Nations art projections on City Hall and checking out the National Wool Museum, where First Nations living cultures, histories and knowledge are at the core of various exhibitions and programs.
I encourage you to get along to one or more of the events that are on across the weekend, and hopefully learn a little about the oldest continuous living culture in the world.
For more information, visit geelongaustralia.com.au/naidocweek and check out what is on.
