Our centresThe 10th anniversary of Warrawong NAIDOC Family Fun Day finally took place on the 1st October, after being postponed in June. It was a fantastic event that united culture and community and a perfect way to celebrate 10 years of dancing, eating, and connecting with our community.
This year we had 58 registered stalls and more than 2,000 attendees. The day was lively and engaging, showcasing the enduring strength of First Nations people in keeping the spirit alive—Blak, Loud, and Proud.
This year’s theme Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud – honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Warrawong NAIDOC Family Fun Day featured a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony performed by local Elder Gerald (Uncle Gee) Brown. Entertainment included local indigenous artist’s Matty Walker, Jess Rees & Merve Roberts, dancers – Kugang Djarmbi (Goog – ahn jarmbi), Yidaki player- Floyd Hogg, a free BBQ, arts and crafts, children’s activities, information stalls, giveaways and a St George Illawarra Dragon’s footy clinic.
Our MC for this 10 year celebration was Elaine Hudson, a proud Darkinjung Woman. Elaine was one of the original Barnardos founding members of the Warrawong NAIDOC committee in 2013, when we started with 7 stalls and 100 people in our Barnardos car park in Greene Street, Warrawong. Founding Members of Warrawong NAIDOC Elaine Hudson, Kristen Phillips and Kristy Thomas marked this milestone with the cutting of the cake to celebrate the journey. It was incredible to see how much this event has grown in the past 10 years.
The Warrawong NAIDOC Committee has grown considerably and now consists of local services including Barnardos Australia, Illawarra Legal Centre, Warrawong Residents Forum, Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Cooperation, Care South, Wollongong City Council, Mission Australia and Department of Communities and Justice. Congratulations to the committee on 10 years of successful NAIDOC events.
“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the Barnardos staff who helped with setup from the early morning. Our stand looked amazing, and the activities for children received numerous compliments. Thank you to the teams from Warrawong and Shellharbour, assisting Rotary, managing traffic, offering cake, playing with kids, and engaging with other services and families. Everyone who contributed in any way helped keep the spirit alive!” – Maria Corsiglia – Centre Manager
