SWAN Hill celebrated the culture and achievements Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the community during NAIDOC Week.
A variety of activities ran throughout last week and the week before with the help of Swan Hill NAIDOC Committee and Mallee District Aboriginal Services.
This year’s theme was Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud.
Swan Hill NAIDOC Committee member Cree Clayton said the week was about joining in the events and “getting to know the culture and appreciate it”.
“We do have a lot of conflict in our own communities as well, so we hope that everyone can come together and have fun,” Ms Clayton said.
“It’s also important in breaking peoples’ negative stereotypes and judgements as well.”
Committee chair Allira Fry said this was her first time leading the local committee.
“It’s been busy,” she said.
“It’s challenging, but it’s also really rewarding at the same time.
“Working with everyone and creating these events has definitely paid off when you see how much the community appreciates them.”
Ms Fry said the events were able to be held with the help of funding from Koondee Woonga-gat Toor-rong and the support of local businesses.
Some of the highlights of NAIDOC Week included:
Family fun day: NAIDOC Week celebrations kicked off with family fun for the whole community.
The Family Fun Day was held at the Swan Hill Aquatic and Recreation Centre and was attended by more than 200 people.
“Everyone has enjoyed it and they can’t wait to see what happens next year,” Ms Fry said.
Environmental day: Trees were being planted at the old Nyah Golf Club site in an effort to revegetate the area with the goal of planting 35,000 native seedlings.
Organiser Jacinta Chaplin said: “It is a Wadi project but we don’t feel that it should be just Wadi (planting the trees).
“We’ve got a whole community here, their hearts are in it and it’s for everybody.”
Youth Basketball: A NAIDOC Week youth-versus-justice basketball match was held at the Grey Street basketball stadium.
Swan Hill’s youth team were victorious after defeating the justice team made up of service workers and police officers 57-53.
Event organiser and NAIDOC committee member Djallarna Hamilton said: “The justice team are yet to win a game in almost 10 years of this match.”
Koorioke: NAIDOC Week ended with lots of singing as the committee brought back Koorioke this year, with Brian Burke and Kayleen Hoggard crowned Koorioke King and Queen, respectively.
“It’s been quite a few years since the NAIDOC committee has hosted Koorieoke – it kind of dropped off for some time,” Ms Clayton said.
“Hopefully we can keep it going each year, because everybody has responded to it so positively before.
