From flag raisings in the Tamworth CBD to family fun days on the Liverpool Plains, this year’s NAIDOC Week program across the region is shaping up to be one of the most extensive in recent memory, with events running from Friday, 3 July to Saturday, 11 July.
This year’s national theme, 50 Years of Deadly, marks half a century since Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples won the right to fly their own flag, and Tamworth NAIDOC Community Chair Danny Dalton said the anniversary was a chance for the whole community to reflect.
“We hope that everyone in Australia will reflect on the fact that Aboriginal history is Australian history,” said Dalton. “For the past 50 years we have celebrated the richness of our country’s First Nations people and this year we would like everyone in the community to join together and celebrate the richness of our culture and share with us that being deadly is something we can all be.”
One of the week’s centrepiece events is the flag raising at Birrelee Community on Monday, 6 July. Birrelee is a Tamworth early childhood organisation known for its culturally immersive approach to learning, and Dalton said the community was proud to see it take a leading role.
“Birrelee is a fantastic organisation that is preparing our next generation by supporting them to be immersed in culturally appropriate learning and as a community we are very proud to be able to have them host a very special flag raising that will highlight the wonderful work that the staff at Birrelee are known for,” said Dalton. “Of course the children will perform and they will be amazing.”
The Tamworth program across the week includes a photographic exhibition, Gather and Trade NAIDOC markets, a yarn and gather at Calala, an Elders Pamper Day, touch football, a cultural burn, a march and a family fun day. Dalton said the range of events reflected the depth of the local First Nations community.
“In Tamworth we are very lucky to have a culturally rich community that are willing to share their talents and skills with community,” said Dalton. “The cultural burn is a great opportunity for members of our community to view up close a cultural practice that the wider country is starting to realise saves lives, shares knowledge of cultural practices that show caring for the land and really has been something that communities all over this country value.”
Organisers have noted the cultural burn may be postponed depending on weather conditions. People are encouraged to check local community pages for updates closer to the date.
Dalton said caring for Elders remained a cornerstone of the week’s program.
“Looking after our Elders is important every year and we have always looked at this responsibility as an important way of having all our community being able to celebrate the week,” said Dalton. “We look after our Elders during NAIDOC week through the Elders Lunch, Elders Pamper Day and through an Elders Tent at our family fun day.”
This year’s photographic exhibition takes a leadership focus, honouring 24 well-known First Nations leaders from across generations, with five local First Nations photographers capturing each honouree. Light projections in the Tamworth CBD will also bring the exhibition to a wider audience.
“Art and storytelling is an integral part of Aboriginal culture and practices and having exhibitions of work and opportunities to celebrate contributions to community are very important parts of our culture,” said Dalton. “Using the theme as a way to identify leadership, this year we are honouring 24 well-known First Nations leaders who have been doing deadly work spanning all generations.”
Beyond Tamworth, events are also planned across the Liverpool Plains, including an art exhibition, a car boot sale at Wallabadah, a weaving circle, a Walhallow Community event, a Quirindi family fun day and a hospital NAIDOC event. Dalton said it was important the celebrations reached smaller communities.
“NAIDOC Week is for everyone and not just for large towns, cities and regional centres,” said Dalton. “There is a lot of cultural knowledge in every part of this country and Walhallow and Quirindi have a rich cultural community with lots of knowledge and pride in our culture.”
The Tamworth Base Hospital will again host a flag raising on its grounds, an event Dalton said held special meaning for the local community.
“When I first came to Tamworth 40 years ago the hospital NAIDOC event was one of the most important events on the week long calendar,” said Dalton. “The hospital will again host the flag raising event on the grounds of the Tamworth Base Hospital with a deadly celebration and community gathering that is very important to all locals.”
Dalton said the message for this year was simple: everyone was welcome.
“We want all of the community to know that NAIDOC Week is for every member of the community. A lot of the events we are hosting are open to all members of the community, and we want to encourage greater participation by the wider community to come and celebrate with us,” said Dalton.
“This truly is a week we can all engage in, participate fully and come along and celebrate with us.”
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