NAIDOC Week events and celebrations to be held in Wagga Wagga
Published: 29 Jun 2023 3:43pm
National NAIDOC Week 2023 commences Sunday 2 July and will continue until Sunday 9 July, with Wagga Wagga’s celebrations to begin with a march down Baylis street and flag raising ceremony.
NAIDOC Week is held annually during the first week of July to recognise and celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The theme for this year’s NAIDOC Week is ‘For Our Elders’ acknowledging the important roles Elders have played in First Nations communities, leading the way through their actions, advocacy, sharing of knowledge and nurturing the younger generations who will one day be Elders themselves.
Council’s Aboriginal Community Development Officer Bernard Higgins is one of the members of this year’s Mawang Gaway NAIDOC Committee and said the committee has made strong considerations of the theme for this year’s events.
“With this year’s theme being For Our Elders it was important for the community to organise events that our Elders could attend and celebrate with their families and friends.
“For the NAIDOC Dinner this year the Elders will be in the spotlight with everyone looking forward to a performance by Uncle Roger Knox.
“Many of our Elders tend to miss out on participating in celebrations because of barriers such as costs and transportation, so we have worked hard to remove these limitations to enable them to come along and be celebrated for everything they have contributed to our community and the continuation of our culture and people” Mr Higgins said.
During NAIDOC week several events will be held in Wagga Wagga, commencing with the march down Baylis street and flag raising ceremony on Monday 3 July, from 10am.
The march will start on Morgan Street (near Baretta Lane) with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, it will then head down Baylis Street to the Wagga Wagga Civic Centre where the flag raising ceremony will take place at 11am.
Various family and youth NAIDOC events will be held across the city throughout the week, including a book launch of Bidhi Galing (Big Rain) by Anita Heiss at the Wagga Wagga City Library, and community events at the Mary Kidson Hall in Turvey Park, Kooringal Hub, Tolland Hub, the Ashmont Community Resource Centre, and the Ngurra Youth Hub in Ashmont.
The Mawang Gaway NAIDOC Committee invites all of Wagga Wagga to come along to the Family Fun Day at Riverside (near the Wagga Wagga Beach) on Friday 7 July, where there will be fun activities for everyone including performances from the Mighty Yak, colouring-in, face painting, slides, 3x3 basketball, and yarns at the Yarning Circle.
NAIDOC Week celebrations will conclude with the ‘For Our Elders’ NAIDOC Dinner onSaturday 8 July at The Gardens Function Centre, Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens. Hosted by the Mawang Gaway Committee, this event is free for First Nations Elders to attend and will include dinner and entertainment by Roger Knox with Rose Quartz acting as the emcee.
For more information on the NAIDOC Week 2023 events in Wagga Wagga please go to www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/naidocweek
NAIDOC Week 2023 schedule of events in Wagga Wagga:
NAIDOC March and Smoking Ceremony
Monday 3 July, 10:00am – 11:00am
Starting on Morgan Street (near Baretta Lane) for a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, then marching down Baylis street toward the Wagga Wagga Civic Centre.
Flag Raising Ceremony
Monday 3 July, 11:00am
Wagga Wagga Civic Centre forecourt.
Book Launch Bidhi Galing by Anita Heiss
Monday 3 July, 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Wagga Wagga City Library, cnr Baylis and Morrow Streets
Register via: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/.../book-launch-for-kids...
RivMed NAIDOC Event
Tuesday 4 July, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Mary Kidson Hall - Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens, Turvey Park
Including bush tucker, traditional dancing, kids’ activities, entertainment, raffles, games, Elders gifts and NAIDOC goodie bags.
Kooringal Hub NAIDOC Event
Tuesday 4 July, 1:00pm – 4:00pm
The Kooringal Community Centre, Wilga Street Kooringal
Youth activities and games, hosted by 54 Reasons.
“For Our Elders” Lunch
Wednesday 5 July, 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Relationships Australia – 36-40 Gurwood St, Wagga Wagga
Tolland Hub NAIDOC event
Wednesday 5 July, 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Tolland Community Centre, 41 Bruce St, Tolland
Traditional games, hosted by staff and trainees from the RAAF base and ADF personnel.
Celebration at Ashmont
Thursday 6 July, 10:00am – 1:00pm
Ngurra Hub, Ashmont
NAIDOC event with the Aunty Jeans Elders Program. There will be cultural activities for the whole family plus cultural dancers, a fashion parade, sausage sizzle, stalls by local community service providers and more.
Ngurra Hub NAIDOC event
Thursday 6 July, 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Ngurra Hub, Ashmont
Family NAIDOC event hosted by Connected Beginnings and Playgroup NSW staff.
NAIDOC Family Fun Day at Riverside
Friday 7 July, 11am – 3pm.
Near Wagga Wagga Beach.
The Mawang Gaway Elders invite all of Wagga Wagga to come along to Riverside and join in a Family Fun Day.
Live Local Original: First Nations Celebration
Friday 7 July, 6pm
Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre
Produced by The Curious Rabbit, this event will include Drag, Dance, Didge, Poetry, and Country Music on First Nations Country.
Ticket Prices: Adults $25.00, Child $15.00.
Book via: https://civictheatre.com.au/whatson/live-local-original-first-nations-celebration
‘For Our Elders’ NAIDOC Dinner
Saturday 8 July from 5pm
The Gardens Function Centre, Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens, Turvey Park
Tickets $50 per person, free for Elders in attendance
Book via https://events.humanitix.com/foroureldersdinner