17 August 2015 | General Interest
Over 200 communities and early childhood centres across Australia have celebrated National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day by hosting a local event for children and families.
All around the country – from Perth to Port Arlington, Tennant Creek to Townsville to Hobart, Port Lincoln, Parramatta to Paroo and to Thursday Island – over 200 local communities came together to celebrate kids and culture.
Children’s Day 2015 supported and celebrated the services that empower our little people to have big futures, highlighting how important it is that these services are adequately funded to support the next generation of children.
“Children’s Day is a fantastic opportunity to increase awareness of the importance of celebrating our children’s strengths and making sure our kids grow up strong in culture.”
– Sharron Williams
In Perth, the Swan Aboriginal Child and Family Centre hosted an amazing National Launch event. Mr Ken Wyatt, Federal Member for Hasluck, and Ms Geraldine Atkinson, SNAICC Deputy Chairperson, spoke passionately about our deadly kids. Local Elders and community leaders united to celebrate with over 650 children from local schools and over 200 parents. Traditional dancers, singers, a roo-sausage sizzle, damper cooking demonstrations, stalls and giveaways made for a incredible day of celebration.
In Melbourne, SNAICC and the Essendon Football Club hosted 70 little ones from the Yappera and Bubup Wilam local Aboriginal early learning services, Children’s Day ambassador Courtenay Dempsey leading the kids through a special footy clinic.
Joined by fellow Essendon players Jake Long and Conor McKenna, as well as AFL Players’ Association representative (and 2014 Children’s Day ambassador) Aaron Davey, Courtenay and the kids handballed, kicked, climbed, chased and rolled the morning away – and met Skeeta too!
From elsewhere around the country:
Utopia Homelands (NT) – Kids from Soapy Bore and their Little People Big Future container mural in progress!
Tennant Creek (NT) – Little people celebrate painting boomerangs at Anyinginyi’s Sport and Recreation Centre in Tennant Creek.
Tennant Creek (NT) – Here’s the deadly banner they created too!
Largs Bay (SA) – Local Ngarrindjeri man Uncle Ross Karpany plays guitar and sings with children at Kura Yerlo Children’s Centre at Largs Bay SA.
Largs Bay (SA) – Hayley Rankine Ngarrindjeri Women shows the children some Aboriginal symbols in her artwork.
Belconnen (ACT) – Ngunnawal Primary school students danced with Chaydin from Wirra Club and Soliola from the Canberra Raiders at the Gungahlin Child and Family Centre in Belconnen ACT.
At Gummyaney Aboriginal Preschool in Grafton NSW, kids and staff celebrated with a BBQ, bush tucker, face painting, storytelling, music and dancing, arts and craft.
In Kyabra Queensland, the Kyabra Community Association hosted ‘Murri Kids in the Park’ – with story telling by Elders and performances from Mowogi Dan, Aboriginal dancers and the local kindergarten ‘Gundoo Mirra’.
At Wonthaggi North Primary School in Victoria every class in the school made a Children’s Day themed book.
At Roberta Jull Family Day Care in WA, children and families handled native animals, explored culture and natural land, and planted native plants in a new community garden.
“Right across this country we celebrated our diverse and strong cultures that infuse every part of us as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. On Children’s Day we recognise and pay respect to these cultures; we enjoy these cultures with our children; and we share these cultures with great pride and joy with our communities.
“This is who we are. Through our cultures we live our values and meaning in life. This is what gives strength and pride to our little people and helps them stand tall.
“It was just so fabulous to see so many communities sharing stories with such pride and seeing our deadly kids singing, dancing, playing, learning and engaging – standing proud.”
– Geraldine Atkinson, SNAICC Deputy Chairperson
Our sincere thanks to everyone who celebrated Children’s Day and helped recognise our the strengths of our kids with such amazing festivities. We acknowledge the passion, dedication and hard work of every person who helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids stand tall and proud.
We look forward to celebrating with you again next year.
What next?
We’re still receiving heaps of great stories and photos from people who held Children’s Day events all across the country. If you have stories and pics you would like to share please email michelle.lausen@snaicc.org.au
SNAICC will be contacting individual services who celebrated with an event this year. If you did not register an event this year and would like to receive updates about Children’s Day 2016 please email your details to michelle.lausen@snaicc.org.au
