NAIDOC Week welcomed

Residents and staff joined in great activities to celebrate and acknowledge NAIDOC Week.

Riverside Gardens Service Manager Kylie Kuwert said NAIDOC Week was important for her not-for-profit organisation.

“NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) Week is an annual celebration of the history, culture, and achievements of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” she said.

“In our organisation’s aged care homes and offices we recognised NAIDOC Week and took the opportunity to come together and talk about these wonderful, ancient cultures.

“Last week at Riverside Gardens where I work, we were honoured to have local man Terry Donovan, an aged care researcher and, as it happens, my brother in-law, open our NAIDOC Week ceremony.

“Terry is an inspiring Gumbaynggirr/Biripai man with a great knowledge of and interest in health, so he was the perfect speaker for us. Thank you for presenting Terry.”

NAIDOC Week acknowledgements and activities were also held at Autumn Lodge in Macksville and Cedar Place in Kempsey. Residents particularly enjoyed viewing artworks, participating in dot painting and fun music activities involving a didgeridoo and clapping sticks.

NAIDOC Week was held from 2-9 July 2023 and provided a week to acknowledge our first nations people and the important contributions they make to our society and to our work places in Australia.