Council activities support Gladstone NAIDOC Week community events
All members of the community can join in a variety of NAIDOC events next month organised as part of Gladstone Region NAIDOC Week 2019 celebrations.
Gladstone Region Acting Mayor Chris Trevor said NAIDOC Week from 7 to 14 July was a time to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July by Australians from all walks of life with the 2019 theme of ‘Voice. Treaty. Truth. Let’s Work Together for a Shared Future’.
“The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community,” Councillor Trevor said.
“Gladstone Regional Council is proud to fly the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags in front of Council’s main office in Goondoon Street each day and has long supported the first peoples of Australia by sponsoring and participating in NAIDOC Week activities.
“This is in addition to the many Council operations for which acknowledgement of and consultation with the Indigenous community is ingrained within our procedures.
“It is also an honour that it has become customary for the Mayor of the day to address those gathered for the NAIDOC march when it pauses at the front of the Council building.”
In addition to other events organised in the community, various NAIDOC Week activities will be held at Council facilities.
To celebrate the start of NAIDOC Week, Council will officially open its new gardens and public art sculpture at the Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum with a smoking ceremony by Traditional Owners.
The sculpture is a collaboration led by artist Katrina Elliot and funded by the Bailai peoples and is representative of last year’s NAIDOC theme, ‘Because of Her We Can’.
In addition, Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum invites the community to join artists for workshops to paint a hand for Luminous and to create a banner for the NAIDOC march.
A NAIDOC exhibition will also be launched at the Gallery & Museum with art from the First Australians, heritage works from the Gallery & Museum’s collection, as well as voices, memories, images and cultural connections on display until 3 August.
Gladstone City Library will host a Language Café – Share your story session and a First Five Forever NAIDOC Celebration arts and craft morning for under 5s.
As well, Gladstone Tondoon Botanic Gardens will be venue for a Fun with Chalk session, Kids Bonsai Masterclass, Bush Tucker Tour and a NAIDOC display at Luminous.
A Gladstone NAIDOC Week calendar of events containing dates, times and location of events will be published on Council’s website under ‘Upcoming Events’ and the ‘NAIDOC Week’ tab.