Celebrating aboriginal culture

9th July 2009

ABOUT 110 adults, students and children attended the Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre NAIDOC Week celebrations on Tuesday.

NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year's theme for NAIDOC Week celebrations was 'Honouring our Elders, nurturing our youth.'

The event started with an address by local Elder Irene Butterworth who welcomed everybody on behalf of the Ngaro people of the Whitsundays.

Mrs Butterworth said she was very honoured to speak to such an interested group of people at Tuesday's event.

She also said she was pleased to see such a great turnout.

“It turned out to be a wonderful day.

“It was great to see so many friendly faces,” she said. People attending included international students and school vacation care children who were anxious to learn and listen to the Elders to discover more about their culture and the Whitsundays.

Irene's welcome was followed by an interactive didgeridoo performance, a barbecue with kangaroo and emu samples and dot painting activities.