Community group to unveil new mural at NAIDOC Week event

NORTHERN Rivers Community Gateway will unveil a new mural created by local aboriginal artists as part of its NAIDOC Week event.

The mural will showcase indigenous stories and culture with a free barbecue to be held on Friday, July 11 at 76 Carrington Street, Lismore between 11am and 2pm.

Senior manger of service delivery Sarah Hughes said running its own NAIDOC Week activity is one of the highlights on the calendar for the community group.

“Our organisation has partnered with Namatjira Haven to support local artists place a mural on our front walls in celebration of their stories and cultural expression,” Ms Hughes said.

“We have a strong commitment to reconciliation and cultural safety within our organisation.

“We work closely with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, it’s important to connect and celebrate first nations culture whenever we can.

“We’ll have a presence at other NAIDOC Week events across Lismore during the week as well.”

The Northern Rivers Community Gateway was established nearly 50 years ago in 1976 and provides welfare and services for vulnerable people in the region.

Each Tuesday they distribute donations from charity group SecondBite with fresh bread, food and produce delivered to people in need.

Free barbecues are held on the first Friday of each month.

They also run a range of family and support services, including free tech clinics to help seniors gain skills on computers and mobile phones.

The community gateway was able to move back into the CBD last year after its offices were destroyed in the 2022 flood.

“We were fortunate enough to be able to rebuild and come back to the community,” Ms Hughes said

“It’s really important for us to have boots on the ground to help combat the cost-of-living pressures and other challenges our community is facing.”