NAIDOC takes its first step in Longreach

WITH just two activities left in the National Aboriginal and Islander Days of Celebration’s (NAIDOC), events co-organiser Myrtle Weldon is hailing Longreach's inaugural commemorations as a success, and has bigger and better plans for next year.

NAIDOC has its origins in the fight for Aboriginal rights that began to gather pace in the 1920s and 1930s but has only latterly taken the form of a week-long celebration.

Mrs Weldon said Longreach had been a bit slow on the uptake of NAIDOC, being celebrated in Longreach for the first time this year due to a growing desire for youngsters to learn about their indigenous roots.

Mrs Weldon hopes NAIDOC will become an important date in the calendar when all sectors of the community can come together.

"We have being trying to get the celebrations up and running here for the last few years but nobody was interested.

"I think they were too scared to do anything.
"We just want to promote and share our culture.
"It is also a chance to get more of our young people to know their heritage.

"I have three grandchildren and they want to know [about their heritage]. I used to ask my mother about it and she would never tell me.
"Hopefully Longreach’s participation in NAIDOC will get bigger and bigger now we have finally started.
"It’s a chance to finally appreciate the diversity and beauty of our culture."

On Monday Longreach’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders kicked the week off by walking the streets, symbolising an official start to NAIDOC.

The group marched through Eagle Street to Qantas Park where an opening ceremony and flag raising was conducted.

Local Ron Beezley welcomed the crowd of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous onlookers, while Mrs Weldon acknowledged the Iningai people, the traditional caretakers of the land around the Central West.

The Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait flags were then raised above the Eagle Street egg-about, before the gathering enjoyed a morning tea in the park.

On Tuesday traditional storytelling was held at the Youth Club followed by the doors of the Longreach Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation (ATSIC) office being thrown open for a community meet and greet on Wednesday.

Yesterday health checks were held at the ATSIC while in the afternoon a beading class was facilitated at the youth club.

Today from 3pm at the Youth Club a celebration of Australian Indigenous Day is being held till 5pm. Tomorrow NAIDOC will conclude with a Family Sports Day at the showgrounds, from 10am to 3pm.