The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags flew over Sunshine’s municipal offices as locals gathered to commemorate NAIDOC Week last Tuesday morning. The National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee holds NAIDOC Week in the first full week of July each year to acknowledge the importance of Indigenous culture and history to Australian communities. The flag-raising was accompanied by a smoking ceremony and a Welcome to Country, expressed by Wurundjeri elder Ron Jones. On Friday, the Deer Park and Sydenham libraries hosted Aboriginal storytelling by Western Creations. This year’s NAIDOC Week theme was, “We all Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate”. – Ashley Alasagas
