Friday July 26 saw Marist180 host a rich, community focussed and welcoming coming together to reflect upon and celebrate the invaluable and continuing contribution of our First Nations peoples to Australia and its society.
A large and diverse crowd gathered at Emerton Youth Recreation Club to celebrate 'KEEP THE FIRE BURNING! BLAK, LOUD, AND PROUD’. Our Aboriginal Services Manager, Matt Norris, reflected on the NAIDOC 2024 theme:
‘I look forward to NAIDOC week every year, as a proud Wiradjuri man to me NAIDOC week celebrates our resilience, cultural pride, and contributions my people have made to Australia as a whole. This year’s theme urges us to preserve our traditions, strengthen our voices and advocate for justice and recognition.
Let us all unite not only during NAICOC week but all year ensuring ongoing respect and recognition for our culture continuation, creating meaningful relationships with everyone across Australia, and promoting a future where our cultural richness is valued and celebrated throughout our lives’.
The club was filled with energy and life! The gathering included a Smoking Ceremony, Dance and Music performance. There were many stalls and exhibitors present-government and other-many of whom partner closely with Marist180.
Food, drinks, giveaways, painting, braiding, reptiles, speakers offering stories and words of pride. New acquaintances made; existing acquaintances renewed. Marist180 staff and clients, and community members, were present in large numbers, offering their support, learning from and enjoying the celebration.
We especially want to acknowledge and thank the members of the Marist180 Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group-Tony Moran, Kayla Bird, Dee Martin, Nakiya Smith, Megan Sprague, Matt Norris, Hayley Whiteman, Katie Burchett, Kudzi Maforimbo-for their generous and above and beyond efforts in planning, creating and delivering a fantastic NAIDOC celebration.
There were many others on the day who contributed their time and talents-these included Arthur Frail, Alajah Wright, Adriana Garcia, and members of the Homelessness Services and Human Resources Teams. We were very appreciative for the presence and support of our Marist180 Board member, Br Anthony Robinson, fms. A big shout out to members of the extended Marist family: Emily Mattick (teacher), and 6 Year 11 students, from Marist College, Eastwood, who did an excellent job as volunteers on the BBQ... very much appreciated.
In summing up, Jesuit Andrew Hamilton, offered the following:
‘The theme of NAIDOC Week, to Keep the Fire Burning, is appropriate at many levels. It echoes the importance that lighting and controlling fire had in Indigenous cultures. Fire lay at the heart of the meals, the feasts, the care for the land, and the community life of Indigenous Australians. To keep it burning was a communal task of mutual service and of service to the land. It was the difference between a thriving and energetic community and one that had lost hope and was dying out. This year the theme of NAIDOC Week marks the determination to honour the fire in the heart that led to the birth of the Week, and to ensure that the fire continues to burn.’
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