Wednesday 27 June 2012
NAIDOC Week celebrations in the Manning Valley will run from 1 – 8 July 2012. The national theme for NAIDOC Week 2012 is “Spirit of the Tent Embassy: 40 years on”.
They dared to challenge – this year’s theme celebrates the champions who lived to renew the spirit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through the establishment of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in 1972. Forty years ago, the embassy became a powerful symbol of unity. Its founders instilled pride, advanced equality and educated the country on the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC Events in the Manning:
Tuesday 3 July
• 9:00am – 3:30pm – Elders Olympics at Taree Recreation Ground hosted by Biripi Elders.
Thursday 5 July
• 8:00am – 10:00am - NAIDOC Community Breakfast hosted in partnership by local General Practitioners group and Biripi AMS at Biripi AMS Purfleet.
• 5:00pm – 10:00pm – Kids Disco at the PCYC coordinated by Leonie Morcome from Biripi AMS.
Friday 6 July
• 10:00am – 3:30pm - NAIDOC Community Day at Queen Elizabeth Park. Master of Ceremonies will be Andrew Saunders and activities include:
• Flag Raising Ceremony by Mayor Paul Hogan
• Reconciliation Hands display by Taree West Public School
• Live broadcast by Ngarralinyi radio station
• World View Exhibition by Woombarra Wunggan Youth Services
Saturday 7 July
• 5:30pm – 11:00pm – Annual Manning Indigenous Achievers Awards Night at Winning Post Function Centre Taree/Wingham Racecourse. Tickets are on sale at the Customer Service Counter at Greater Taree City Council for $40.
Aboriginal Community Officer and Biripi NAIDOC Committee member Tracey Anderson said “I’m excited about the coming together of Biripi people and Aboriginal people within the Biripi area united in purpose, as one to ensure that our most significant, annual cultural event is what makes this year’s NAIDOC Week Community Day on 6 July different in a number of ways to all other years”.
This year we have the largest number of stall holders in the history of NAIDOC Week with new community partners both locally and regionally taking part. Community Day will have stalls areas such as ‘kids corner’ youth connect, child & family services, aged & disability services, legal services, employment, education, training, health and a variety of general services.
A unique exhibition from Woombarra Wunggan Youth Services that provided Aboriginal youth a camera to capture images that reflect their thoughts, feelings and experiences that celebrate their cultural identity. Photographs and Historical information on the Tent Embassy will also be on display.
Contact Tracey Anderson on 6592 5275 or 0427925275 for more information, or visit our website www.gtcc.nsw.gov.au.