NAIDOC Week will be celebrated across the Southern Downs from this weekend with a wide calendar of events.
The week, which will be celebrated from 2 to 9 July, celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
In keeping with this year’s theme Songlines – The Living Narrative of Our Nation, the Warwick dinner on Saturday 2 July will offer up personal stories from five local elders.
Each year there are several events that have become regulars on the Southern Downs NAIDOC calendar, such as the police flag-raising ceremony, combined church service, health services morning teas and community elders morning tea.
The organisers invite the whole community to come along and share their own stories of culture from across the world, while enjoying the three-course smorgasbord dinner. For those interested in art, you can visit the Four Winds Cafe, in Dragon Street, Warwick, to view traditional art.
Or accompany the artist on a tour of the gallery for a personal insight into the stories behind the artwork.
The Stanthorpe community is invited to participate in a free lunch, with traditional bush tucker including kangaroo and emu on the menu. Local dance group “Yulu Mob” will perform traditional and contemporary dance.
The organisers of every event on the calendar warmly invite Southern Downs residents to join them at these events.
Southern Downs mayor Tracy Dobie thanked the NAIDOC Week working group and participating organisations and community groups for the various events that will be held during July.
“It’s always great to see government and non-government organisations working together to celebrate NAIDOC Week and bringing interesting events to the table.
“It is important for us, as a community, to recognise NAIDOC Week and to celebrate together this year’s theme around songlines and narrative,” Cr Dobie said.
Cr Dobie strongly encouraged all residents around the region to feel welcome to attend any or all of the events listed in the calendar, as these events have been organised for everyone in the community to enjoy.
The 2016 NAIDOC Week calendar of events is available from the council’s website www.sdrc.qld.gov.au/our-region/what-s-on/naidoc-week-2016
For further details about any of the NAIDOC events and activities, please contact the event organisers as outlined in the calendar, or contact the council’s community development officer Pam Burley on 1300 MY SDRC (1300 697 372).
