National Naidoc Week for 2018 begins on July 8 and a local group of community members have been meeting fortnightly since February in preparation for the full week of events planned for Mount Isa.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Naidoc Week 2018 celebrates the invaluable contributions Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are making to our communities, our families, our rich history and to our nation.
Under the theme “Because of her, we can!” Naidoc Week 2018 will be held nationally from July 8-15 and preparations are already underway in Mount Isa towards a full week of events and activities.
The big day will be Friday, July 13 with a Naidoc breakfast, street march and a fun day at the Skate Park from 10am-4pm.
Valerie Craigie and Vicki Williams are two women on the committee for many years and they said Naidoc in Mount Isa had grown from wonderful beginnings with many different people involved.
This year we have a number of new members and it is always wonderful hearing the fresh ideas they bring and what we might be able to do to improve the events each year,” Ms Craigie said.
“A calendar of the events on during NAIDOC week is currently being mapped out and will then be distributed throughout community agencies and public notice boards welcoming community attendance.”
Mrs Williams said this year’s theme recognised the role women have played as pillars of our society.
“We have had many women in our community dating back many years and even now who have been leaders and even trailblazers paving the way as change agents to improve services like health, education, aged care and even excelling in the areas of acting and art”. Mrs Williams said.
“We have local women who have been recognised on a national scale like Sheree Blackley who in 2010 won the national Naidoc Poster Competition, and Patty Lees who has been listed as a Member of the Order for her significant service to the Indigenous community of Mount Isa, and to local youth, aged care, legal and health organisations”.
Mrs Williams said the committee wanted to bring light to the contributions of all women.
“That’s whether they are stay at home mothers, single mothers raising children, working women juggling commitments and even our retired women who continue to contribute to community play in the social fabric of working to make our community a wonderful place to live,” she said.
The community can follow updates in the Facebook group ‘2018 NAIDOC Week Celebrations – Mount Isa’.