NAIDOC Week events kept children busy during the first week of the school holidays with celebrations living up to this year’s theme of 50 Years of Deadly.
The week put Indigenous community, culture and connection front and centre, marking the milestone of five decades of NAIDOC Week in Australia with a variety of events.
On Friday, the Justice and Community Network Committee hosted a NAIDOC community event at Edith Cowan Square, with activities to keep the children busy and entertained, the community informed and the crowd’s bellies full.
Event organiser Samantha Harring said: “There’s obviously lots of free food and free drinks, including damper. The damper is made from Greenough Regional Prison, and it’s really about trying to connect with the community, and I think that’s something our community does really well.”
“I think this year with NAIDOC being deadly, I think you know it’s a deadly event. And I think the committee does a fantastic job in trying to engage the community.”
Tessa Mitchell, 12, was excited to celebrate her culture with others for NAIDOC Week on the school holidays.
“I like being here because it’s about culture and it’s about how lively it’s been over the past 50 years, and it’s a good day to respect and honour that we’re still here and that we have been through tough times,” she said.
“My family is very happy to be a part of this culture and be with like people and celebrate.”
The City of Greater Geraldton hosted a fun afternoon of painting and creativity at the Geraldton Youth Centre on Thursday.
Kids were focused on carving Indigenous designs on boomerangs and painting rocks.
City youth development officer Erykah Forrest said: “We are celebrating NAIDOC Week through connecting cultures throughout.”
City of Greater Geraldton youth vibrancy officer Bonnie Crook added: “We’re supported by Rio Tinto, which is really fantastic. So it allows us to offer a wide range of programs for young people aged 10 to 17 or 18.”
The youth-focused Mayu Ball at Batavia Hall on Thursday night was another highlight on Geraldton’s NAIDOC Week calendar.
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