Unity across central Queensland: Celebrating NAIDOC Week 2024
Posted on August 5th, 2024
NAIDOC Week 2024 saw vibrant celebrations across our region, bringing communities together to honour our First Nations’ culture, history and achievements.
The events in Yeppoon, Emerald, Blackwater, Mackay and Rockhampton were filled with traditional ceremonies, cultural performances and family-friendly activities that highlighted the spirit of unity and respect.
In Yeppoon, celebrations kicked off with a march from the old railway station on James Street. We proudly joined in the march to the Yeppoon Foreshore, where the Capricorn Coast Indigenous Mob led a moving Welcome to Country ceremony. The foreshore came alive with sounds of traditional dancing and music, and the aroma of delicious food.
Emerald’s NAIDOC Week celebrations began with a community gathering at the Central Highlands Regional Council office forecourt. The event featured a flag-raising ceremony and a delightful morning tea, fostering a sense of togetherness.
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- Members of our Yeppoon team joined in the vibrant celebrations.
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- From the old railway station to the foreshore, Yeppoon marched with pride.
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- Emerald hosted a flag-raising ceremony to kick-off their NAIDOC Week celebrations.
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- The Emerald community united to celebrate our First Nations’ culture and history.
Blackwater also joined in the festivities, commencing their celebrations with a flag-raising ceremony. Our Central Highlands team proudly participated in the march through town, which concluded with a vibrant community event at Lions Park. The event featured a variety of activities and stalls from different community groups, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere.
Mackay’s NAIDOC Week events included a street parade through town, culminating in the Family Fun Day at Queens Park. The event showcased an array of cultural performances and featured more than 60 stalls from local community organisations. Our team hosted a stall at the event, offering information about our services and some sweet treats and fun games!
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- Blackwater locals showed their support for NAIDOC Week by joining in the march.
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- Traditional owners, the Ghungalu people, led the march through town to Lions park.
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- Our Mackay team welcomed local families and school groups at the Family Fun Day event in Queens Park.
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- We proudly joined in the street parade through Mackay.
And finally, our Rockhampton team proudly joined their local NAIDOC Week March, making a striking impression in our red indigenous shirts amidst the crowd of school groups, local organisations and families who also marched.
The streets of the CBD were lined with locals who heard our loud and proud voices, as march leaders led chants of “Blak, Loud and Proud” and “Keep the Fire Burning” as the march wove through the CBD.
The march commenced at Rockhampton Town Hall, before moving along East Street and crossing the Fitzroy Bridge. It concluded at the Rockhampton Cricket Grounds for the Family Fun Expo, which featured entertainment, community group stalls and activities for children. Our Family Relationship Centre team hosted a stall at the expo, which offered a variety of fun activities including making friendship bracelets and wooden keychains, and painting boomerangs.
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- Traditional owners, the Dharumbal people, led the march through town.
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- Families, school groups and local organisations joined in the march through Rockhampton.
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- Our team made a striking impression in our red indigenous shirts.
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- Our Family Relationship Centre team hosted a stall at the expo, which offered a variety of fun activities.
The 2024 NAIDOC Week celebrations across Yeppoon, Emerald, Blackwater, Rockhampton and Mackay were a resounding success. Each event, with its unique blend of cultural traditions, performances and community activities, highlighted the collective effort to honour and promote our First Nations’ culture.
As this year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations drew to a close, they left behind a strengthened sense of community and a renewed commitment to celebrating and preserving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage for future generations.
CatholicCare is proud to support NAIDOC week, and more importantly, demonstrate our year round commitment to recognising and celebrating our First Nations peoples, communities and cultural heritage.
Through our collective efforts, we strive towards a future where the stories, traditions, and achievements of our First Nations communities are acknowledged and celebrated.
Learn more about NAIDOC Week: www.naidoc.org.au/about/naidoc-week
