NAIDOC Week has officially begun in Kempsey with the annual march and flag raising ceremony today.
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Hundreds of locals gathered this morning for the commemorative march along Belgrave Street to Services Club Park where the ceremony was held.
Chair person of the Kempsey Aboriginal Land Council, Fred Kelly, addressed the locals and said the theme of this years NAIDOC Week ‘because of her, we can’ is an important one.
“Our culture is all about respecting women and especially our mothers, if it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be here today,” Mr Kelly said.
“This is the a start of a really special week in the Kempsey community.”
Kempsey mayor Liz Campbell was at the flag raising ceremony and reiterated how important this celebration is for the whole community.
“NAIDOC Week is a special time when our whole community can celebrate the achievements of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” Cr Campbell said.
“This year’s theme – because of her, we can – shines a spotlight on the role Aboriginal women have in preserving their cultural heritage, in pioneering for change and better opportunities for themselves and their children and the vital role they play in protecting and nurturing their immediate and extended family.”
“By joining together as a community to share in Naidoc activities, we show the value we all bring and the privilege we all have to live in the Macleay Valley, in Dunghutti Country,” Cr Campbell said.
Throughout the following week, there are a number of NAIDOC activities, including a movie night, family photo day and a number of craft and sport activities.
Check out Kempsey NAIDOC on Facebook for the full list of activities https://www.facebook.com/Kempsey-Naidoc-1451888608443518/