Published on Thursday, 10 December 2020 at 12:35:36 PM

NAIDOC Week was held from Sunday, 8 November, until Sunday, 15 November with the theme Always Was, Always Will Be. This year, the community celebrations were combined with Merredin College events which kicked off with an opening ceremony at an assembly on Monday morning. The assembly included a Welcome to Country by Ambrose McGrath, as well as traditional music and dancing performed by Merredin College Aboriginal students.

After the ceremony concluded, Aboriginal Elders, guests, staff and community members enjoyed a delicious lunch provided by Dimensions Café and Wild Poppy Café.

Later in the day, a sea of painted hands were placed in the ground on the Visitor Centre lawn. These hands were painted by many local community members to celebrate NAIDOC Week.

An early start Tuesday was needed for the tour of Njaki Njaki Reserve. Community members and students from the College immersed themselves in Aboriginal culture through multiple activities including a smoking ceremony, storytelling, painting, dancing, and cooking.

Celebrations concluded on Friday, with a sand art mural designed by Marika Hayden completed at the College. Community members and students helped Marika with the completion of the mural by the placement of grains of sand. Once the mural was finished, Aboriginal girls who attended the College danced on the mural.

The Shire would like to thank all community members, groups, and organisations who were involved in the delivery of the NAIDOC Week celebrations. It was certainly one to remember!

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