Hobsons Bay council celebrated the start of their NAIDOC Week events with a flag raising ceremony at the Civic Centre in Altona on Tuesday, July 4.
NAIDOC Week, which runs from July 2-9, celebrates and recognises the history, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The flag raising event celebrated this year’s theme of ‘For our Elders’.
The day began with a speech from deputy mayor Diana Grima, followed by a speech by community development co-ordinator Ben Pollard.
The morning also included a performance by the Yarrabah Cultural Dancers, whose council shares a valued sister city relationship with the Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council in north Queensland.
Yarrabah is the traditional country of the Gunggandji and Yidinji people, a coastal community of about 4000 people.
The dancers also performed on Wednesday, July 5 for, followed by a NAIDOC Week event film screening, as well as light refreshments for those in attendance.
The film, titled 1788 Waruwi, follows an Aboriginal girl looking after her cheeky Nana while the rest of her extended family is away from camp.
The day will also feature a walk and read under the Story Tree, as well as an exhibition of poetry.
