By Jeremy Cook
Warwick’s Githabul people have described this year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations as a chance to reflect on Indigenous struggles for recognition.
Born out of an Indigenous civil rights protest in 1938, NAIDOC Week has grown to become a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and achievements.
For eight days starting 7 July, events commemorating Indigenous culture will be staged all around Australia, including Warwick.
But Githabul woman Melissa Chalmers said the week was more than that.
“It’s a time to reflect on past struggles,” Ms Chalmers said.
“I think for a lot of Aboriginal people, we think about our former activists or people before us who really fought for Aboriginal rights in this country,” she said.
“I think a lot of people don’t really know what it’s about too … and if they don’t know then they can come and learn.”
The end of 2024 NAIDOC Week will also mark nine months to the day when Australians voted to reject a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
Ms Chalmers, who is also the chairperson of the Waringhehn Aboriginal Corporation chairperson, reflected on the referendum defeat which, in her own electorate, found little support.
Approximately 85 per cent of voters in the vastly rural federal seat of Maranoa said “no“ to a Voice to Parliament, the highest proportion of no votes found in all of Australia.
Ms Chalmers felt her Aboriginal identity had been strengthened by the defeat.
“I personally was really disappointed, but it just strengthens your resolve to just stay strong, stay focused and just be proud,” she said.
“I think what’s happened is a lot of Aboriginal people have just gone, you know what, we’re still here, we’re still going to fight, we’re not going away.”
Early this year, Indigenous Australians were urged to “keep the fire burning” as per the theme for this year’s NAIDOC week.
The theme had been chosen by the National NAIDOC Committee in what Co-Chair Aunty Lynette (Dr) Riley said was a “clarion call” for “continued unity and solidarity” amongst all Australians.
In Warwick, where NAIDOC celebrations will launch with a march down Palmerin Street on Monday, Githabul woman Judith Charles said the fire burning theme had a special meaning for her people.
“[It’s] really important to Githabul people,” Ms Charles said.
“Historically, it’s been recorded that we’ve been known as the ‘Gooneburra’ which [loosely] translates to fire people.”
The Githabuls had attracted the “Gooneburra” name from neighbouring tribes for their habit of frequently burning grasslands. Ms Chalmers said by still practicing cultural burnings to this day, her people were “keeping that culture strong”.
NAIDOC Week 2024 events in Warwick:
Monday 8 July
– 9am: NAIDOC March from corner of Palmerin and Percy Street
– 10am: Flag Raising ceremony at Warwick Uniting Church Hall
– 11am: NAIDOC Community Fun Day at Leslie Park
Tuesday 9 July
– 9.30am: River Walk with Headspace, commencing at Tiddalick The Frog (Federation Park)
– 10.30am to 12pm: Elders Morning Tea at Bushkids Warwick
– 1.30pm to 2.30pm: NAIDOC Kids Colouring in Workshop at Rose City Shoppingworld (near Coles)
Wednesday 10 July
– 10.30am: NAIDOC Storytime at Warwick Library
– 1.30pm to 2.30pm: NAIDOC Kids Colouring in Workshop at Rose City Shoppingworld (near Coles)
Thursday 11 July
– Goolburri and Mercy Community lunch and kid-friendly activities
Friday 12 July
– 10am to 3.30pm: Goolburri Fun Day at Leslie Park with arts and crafts, outdoor activities and bbq
