Community-led events in the City of Kwinana celebrated the NAIDOC Week theme of For Our Elders, with activities for all ages culminating in a Nyoongar Boodja NAIDOC footy game.
Celebrations took place a week early in Kwinana to allow community members to participate in other events in Perth, and beyond, during national NAIDOC Week (2 July to 9 July 2023).
Local celebrations began with a launch at Medina Hall, organised by the Indigenous Institute of Sport and Wellbeing on Monday 26 June, followed by a special event at the Moorditj Kulungars playgroup on the Tuesday morning.
A luncheon honouring local Elders was held at the Kwinana Bowling Club on Wednesday, 28 June, followed by the Medina Aboriginal Cultural Centre’s Family Day in Apex Park on the Thursday.
The Little Peeps Roller Disco kept young ones entertained Friday with NAIDOC Week activities at Astroskate, and The Zone Youth Space offered youth activities throughout the week.
The celebrations wrapped up with the Nyoongar Boodja NAIDOC footy game, proudly supported by the City of Kwinana and the Kwinana Knights, which was held on 9 September at Medina Oval with activities for all ages, come and try session, face painting and inflatable games.
Mayor Carol Adams, who spoke at the opening event, said the theme of NAIDOC Week ‘For Our Elders’ celebrated the role Elders have and continue to play in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and families.
“We can draw strength from their knowledge and experience, in everything from land management, cultural knowledge to justice and human rights,” Mayor Adams said.
“Elders carry and nourish the heart of the community, and in Kwinana this is well-known as being a close-knit and supportive community.
“Elders play an important role in local communities as a whole, and the City of Kwinana is therefore committed to working with Elders even more closely, recently elevating the Boola Maara (Many Hands) Advisory Group to a formal committee level of Council.
“Elders are knowledge holders, nurturers, survivors, and leaders.
“They have blazed new trails, navigated decades of personal and national challenges, and set the course for generations to follow, so we pay our respect to the Elders here in Kwinana and their commitment and dedication for a better future for the local community, and to those who have gone before,” she said.