Flags Rise And People March NAIDOC Week Kicks Off In Bowen

A beautiful array of colours, flags, banners and decorations lined the streets of Bowen on Monday the 8th of July for the annual NAIDOC Week Flag Raising and March.
The event launches a week full of festivities, highlighting the communities' inclusive spirit and celebrating the invaluable contributions of the Indigenous members of the community.
Girudala, a community control society, that is celebrating its 50th year, this year, organised and hosted the event with CEO Associate Professor Carmen Parter, who appeared quite enthusiastic about the day.
“I've been told that this is the biggest march they have had here in Bowen,” she said.
“Today is really about the whole week.”
“That’s a whole week celebrating our culture and showcasing who we are as First Nations people in this wonderful country, and to be back on Juru land to make that celebration,” Professor Parter highlighted.
The day started with a March, beginning at 10:00am from Bowen Front Beach, and finished in Town Square, beside the council chambers.
The March was followed by speeches, a traditional smoking ceremony, dance and a cutting of a cake. Individuals then gathered for the flag raising.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags were raised alongside the Australian flag over the council chambers, by guest speakers Mayor Ry Collins, Aunty Stephanie Cora, Juru decedent and Uncle Kakam Billy, local Torres Strait Islander decedent.
Mayor Ry Collins expressed how important it is to “make time in our calendars,” to pay tribute to and recognise the importance of Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander culture to our community.
These events are “really important events in our community calendar, and I love being the leading community representative for that,” Mayor Collins added.
NAIDOC has many other events over the week, including schools which are running their own independent events, and a Family Fun Day down at the Sound Shell on Saturday.
Professor Parter emphasised that these events, “once again showcase our culture, our food, our dance, our Music, our stories, and celebrating our elders”.
She added that special mention needs to go to Lela Idagi, who organised the fantastic event for the local community.
“It's a celebration, so, all you can say is be happy, be proud of who you are as First Nations people, Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander people in this country, because we are awesome, we are the oldest living culture.”
Mayor Ry Collins wanted to thank everyone for coming down and supporting the event:
“I just want to thank everyone for their attendance today. I think we saw a really good turnout here this morning.”
The mayor added that he noticed a “strong desire, particularly from our kids to get out and really understand more about what NAIDOC week’s about.”
In her speech, Professor Parter highlighted: “Today is not just about celebrating the past, it is about creating a stronger future.”
NAIDOC week is an important time to come together to honour and celebrate the Indigenous community, find out more about events near you on their website: https://www.naidoc.org.au

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Guest speakers raising flags
School children supporting the event
Traditional smoking ceremony
Cutting of the cake
School children with ‘Blak, Loud and Proud’ banner
The Indigenous Elders who attended the event

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