NAIDOC Week in the Borough

NAIDOC Week celebrations continued this week despite COVID compromising the usual festivities.

This year the theme ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’, pronounced “Yannan-ik Yannan-iyu” in Wadawurrung language, underpinned the annual week celebrating the history, culture and achievements of First Nations people.

The Borough of Queenscliffe is delivering an education program in schools coordinated by the national Koori Kids pogram.
Connor Parker, co-ordinator for community engagement, said students entered short stories, essays and drawings into a competition that explored the importance of Aboriginal history and achievement.

A post on the Borough Facebook page acknowledged that Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale were home to the Bengalat Balug clan of the Wadawurrung tribe.

“We’re looking forward to seeing how local students engage with this program.” Mr Parker said.

The City of Greater Geelong has organsised a virtual tour of significant Wadawurrung locations, with explanations from traditional owners available at the City of Greater Geelong’s website. The tour features 20 locations, featuring spots in the You Yangs and lesser-known locations across the Bellarine.

City of Greater Geelong chief executive officer Martin Cutter said NAIDOC Week provided an opportunity for all community members to reflect on the history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders.

“The fact that Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander peoples have been caring for this country for over 65,000 years is truly awe-inspiring.

“It is an honour to celebrate the thousands of generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to acknowledge that they were Australia’s first explorers, botanists, scientists, astronomers, engineers, artists and lots more.”

Alongside the virtual tour, the NAIDOC Week projections lit up City Hall, and banners featuring the art of Wadawurrung Traditional Owners have flown acrossthe region.
Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation chief executive officer Paul Davis encouraged the community to get involved.

“This year’s theme, Always Was Always Will Be, is significant as it reminds us there here in Geelong (Djilang), the Wadawurrung people never ceded sovereignty and therefore this place always remains as Wadawurrung Country.”

For information on all NAIDOC Week celebrations, head to geelongaustralia.com.au/naidocweek2020.