Footscray Community Arts Centre

News

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Celebrating NAIDOC Week

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This week is NAIDOC Week and Footscray Community Arts Centre encourages everyone to get out and support our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by participating in some of the many events planned throughout the week.  NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Centre was proud to attend a flag-raising ceremony on Monday 6 July at Maribyrnong City Council offices, and witness the raising of both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander flags in front of Council Offices. “Council is exceptionally proud to be involved with NAIDOC Week celebrations in recognition of our local Australian Indigenous community, the Wurundjeri tribe of the Kulin Nation,” said Mayor of the City of Maribyrnong, Cr Michael Clarke.

“NAIDOC Week is an important time for us to acknowledge the rich history and contribution of indigenous Australians to our community. It is about offering our enduring respect to the elders of these traditional lands, and through them, to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”  said Cr Clarke.

Also speaking at today’s flag-raising ceremony was Colleen Marion from the Western Suburbs Indigenous Gathering Place.  Colleen thanked Maribyrnong City Council for their ongoing support of The Gathering Plce and outlined some of the issues faced by the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, especially the health impacts of diabetes and smoking on members of these communities.  She also thanked the local police for their commitment to supporting the local community and in particular their participation in the annual Indigenous Players vs Victoria Police football game that kicks of NAIDOC Week in the western suburbs every year.

To find out more about how you can particpate in local NAIDOC Week activities, visit The Gathering Place’s website.

To find out more about NAIDOC, click here.

Show your support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by joining the NAIDOC March. The NAIDOC March starts at 11am at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, 186 Nicholson St Fitzroy, and marches through the central business district of Melbourne to Federation Square for speeches and a concert commencing at 12pm.

NAIDOC March & Concert
Friday 10 July
11:00pm - 2:00pm