Bourke celebrates NAIDOC Week

Gertie Darrigo giving the Welcome to Country message at Monday’s Opening Ceremony of NAIDOC Week – with Phillip Sullivan and Kerrieanne Howarth PHOTO: TWH

The Bourke community experienced one of the biggest NAIDOC celebrations this year, with more than a week of events, activities, and commemorations.

The official NAIDOC Week began on Monday, but the celebrations began last week so school students could participate before the holiday break.

The Opening Ceremony ironically, had to be re-located from the Muda site to the Bourke AMS premises due to rain, but a large crowd still turned out to take part in the event.

The Welcome to Country was given by Aunty Gertie Darrigo, with Kerrieanne Howarth giving the official NAIDOC address and Uncle Phil Sullivan officiating with the cutting of the NAIDOC cake, baked by Nola Taylor Brookes.

The theme of this year’s NAIDOC Week is Voice, Treaty Truth and the message was shared across a range of events throughout the week,

On Tuesday, NAIDOC activities were focussed in Central Park with a traditional arts and crafts program in the morning followed by lunch. Central Park was again the focal point on Wednesday with the NAIDOC organising committee from Maranguka putting on a Community Day.

Read more in the printed edition of the Western Herald.