THE Swan Hill community came out in their hundreds to honour and celebrate Indigenous culture last week – culminating in a NAIDOC Week march through the main street.Crowds watched the moving displays of traditional dancing before the Service Expo and Awards Ceremony, which recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievements.
Other activities through the week gave plenty of opportunity for further reflection on this year’s NAIDOC theme of Heal Country!
These included a session welcoming babies to Country, a three-on-three basketball competition organised by the Justice Department, and the annual Elders Luncheon, when leaders in the community met with old and new acquaintances and exchanged knowledge.
In attendance was Esther Kirby, who works at the Kerang Hospital as an Aboriginal liaison officer, and with Mallee District Aboriginal Services.
“I’m one of many elders active in the community, getting the young people into sport, and offering a helping hand whenever they need behind the scenes,” she said.
MDAS chair Damien Murray said while the week had been a success, seeing the Aboriginal community prosper all year round was a priority.
“We keep the community to a high standard and, as elders, we want to be able to pass on our knowledge to the next generation,” he said.
Stephanie Charles said it was about having the Aboriginal communities coming together to acknowledge and work with each other.
“It’s about what makes me strong and proud to be an Aboriginal person,” Ms Charles said.
“My roots are here, with my late grandmother. We need to share in our information – our ancestors left a legacy, and we need to continue their work.”
