Ceremonies in Scone, Singleton and Muswellbrook are acknowledging NAIDOC Week in the Upper Hunter.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
NAIDOC Week runs from Monday, July 5 to Sunday, July 12 in 2015.
This year’s theme – We all Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate –recognises the unique and timeless connection to land of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
National NAIDOC Committee co-chairs Anne Martin and Benjamin Mitchell said this year’s theme is an opportunity to pay respect to country, acknowledge those who work tirelessly to preserve land, sea and culture and to celebrate the sacred and significant places of Indigenous communities.
2015 also marks the 30th anniversary of the ‘Handback’ of Uluru to its traditional owners on 26 October 1985.
In Muswellbrook on Monday, Jean Hands from the Wanaruah Aboriginal Land Council was joined by General Manager of Muswellbrook Shire Council, Steve McDonald, Deputy Mayor Malcolm Ogg, Councillor Janelle Risby and Upper Hunter MP, Michael Johnsen, at a flag-raising ceremony.
The event took place at the office of the Aboriginal Land Council in Maitland Street.
In Scone, Kamilaroi elder Aunty Ros Stair shared a NAIDOC commemoration with Upper Hunter Mayor Wayne Bedggood and Councillor Lee Watts at Council’s Liverpool Street Administration Centre with children’s activities afterwards.
Singleton festivities started this week with the opening of an Aboriginal mural at Singleton Hospital in Dangar Road followed by a morning tea at the hospital.
Singleton Council Library last night hosted NAIDOC Week author Paul Callaghan who spoke about his book Iridescence: finding your colours and living your story.
Other activities are being held this week in the region, including a family fun day hosted by the Wanaruah Aboriginal Land Council in Muswellbrook on Sunday, July 12 at Victoria Park.
It starts at 10:30am and will finish with fireworks.