Geraldton celebrates NAIDOC Week with events to recognise and commemorate culture

The celebration of Indigenous culture has been a focus in the community this week during NAIDOC Week, and will culminate in a spectacular drone light show at the weekend.

Throughout the week, people have been learning about the cultural importance and messages behind NAIDOC Week, all keeping to this year’s theme: Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud.

Yamatji woman and former State MP Carol Martin recently told the Geraldton Guardian the week held a strong importance within the community.

“NAIDOC Week is about us sharing our culture collectively, and recognising those that are a part of our community,” she said.

“To me, it’s always been important, and I’ve always celebrated it and participated.”

The festivities started on Sunday with an opening ceremony hosted by the Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service at the QEII community centre.

Among the entertainment was local Yamatji man Johnny Garlett with traditional dances, the Red Ochre Band, rapper Sam Bennell, and the Karloo Rockers.

On Monday, there was a flag-raising and a cake-cutting ceremony at GRAMS in Rangeway.

Eight teams competed in an Amazing Race on Tuesday, battling the rain while travelling around the CBD to compete in various challenges.

Events required a variety of different skill sets, with participants playing the board game Operation, completing fitness challenges, having a hit at minigolf, and thinking their way through puzzles, among other activities.

The City of Greater Geraldton also put on a NAIDOC Week event on Tuesday at Rocks Laneway, where children painted boomerangs and sketched animals.

On Wednesday, GRAMS held its annual NAIDOC Week big breakfast, with hundreds of eggs, sausages, rashers of bacon, and slices of fruit consumed over the morning.

It was the fourth year the breakfast had been put on, with those in attendance sharing stories over a meal.

The Geraldton NAIDOC Awards were scheduled for Thursday, July 11 at 5pm, recognising those who embody the spirit and resilience of the Yamatji people.

On Friday, there will be a NAIDOC Week event at Mitchell Street Park with live music, a sausage sizzle, and haircuts from 10am.

On Saturday, the First Lights drone and light show, Winthu Wangga, will take place on the Geraldton foreshore.

The event aims to tell local First Nations stories through the use of drones in an event run by Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation.

There will be activities on Saturday from 4.30pm, with the light show taking place at 7pm.