IT’s been three months in the planning and next week’s Naidoc celebrations aim to provide a platform for sharing and showcasing the region’s indigenous culture and talents.
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With the theme for 2016 ‘Songlines – the living narrative of our nation’, events range from the spiritual to cultural.
“Every year we form a Naidoc committee which is made up of Elders from the community, staff from Tobwabba AMS, the Land Council, local churches, Homebase Services also occasionally other service providers will come along on the day,” said Margie Donnelly.
“The community day is an open invitation for all of community, not just Aboriginal. It’s a great way of Closing the Gap.”
Events will kick off on Sunday July 3 with services at St Albans Church and Catholic Church from 9.30am. On Monday July 4 the Naidoc flag raising and smoking ceremony will take place at 10am at MidCoast Council Forster chambers; Tuesday is Naidoc Elders Day on the Amaroo followed by the Kids Disco and sausage sizzle from 5pm; Wednesday is the Touch Footy Community versus Police match from 11am and a movie night with dinner from 5pm; Thursday is the Community Day from 10am to 2pm with a range of activities planned and the Naidoc Men’s Golf Day will be held on Friday July 8.
MidCoast Council is also inviting residents to Forster Library next Friday for 'Creatively Collaborating Culture'. Kathleen Morgan and Ronnie Potter will be coordinating the activity of Aboriginal storytelling and artwork and design.
"There will be storytelling from local Aboriginal people and then everyone will have an opportunity to tell their story by participating in the Aboriginal painting and creative writing of either stories or poems" said the Library's Outreach Services officer, Meredith Campbell.
All the work will be combined onto a canvas and the finished artwork will form part of a special exhibition on display in the Library.
