NAIDOC Day was celebrated by nearly 200 people in Gin Gin on Saturday at the Yarning Circle event.
The free event was hosted by Wandin Aboriginal Group in partnership with Bundaberg Regional Council and QCWA Country Kitchens.
Everyone involved took part in this year’s theme of Voice, Treaty, Truth and worked together to make it a fun, family focused and culturally inclusive day.
Entertainment included Aboriginal dancing, didgeridoo players, bush tucker tasting, Indigenous Australian art displays and other stalls.
Ray Johnson talked about the bush tucker available locally.
The Country Kitchens Team cooked up a storm that included, crocodile skewers, emu burgers, kangaroo salad and some chocolate and date bliss balls.
The emu burgers were very popular along with the barramundi which was coated in both lemon and aniseed myrtle sourced locally from Ray’s Bush Garden at Gin Gin Landcare Community Gardens.
NAIDOC Day supported by all
Aunty Marina Anderson (nee Munro) was instrumental in forming the Wandin Aboriginal Community Group and, since its inception, has worked diligently to get the group running to host this very important day to celebrate Indigenous heritage.
Being one of the matriarchs in the Gin Gin area, Aunty Marina worked tirelessly to encourage and cultivate great working relationships to get the event off the ground.
Contributing to the success of NAIDOC Day, Gin Gin both Joan Lord and Priscilla Olive worked industriously in the promotion and marketing of the event with the support of the Gin Gin Neighbourhood Centre.
Marina Anderson, Deb Krough, Taylor Geary and Marlene Johnson are also part of the Wandin Aboriginal Community Group and are founding members of the group.
Gidarjil Development Corporation was also part of the volunteer workforce to get the project off the ground.
The corporation, based in Bundaberg, provides a base for a variety of programs and initiatives that benefit Indigenous Australians.
A number of those volunteers reside in the Gin Gin area and were heavily involved in putting together NAIDOC Day.
Colin and Sandra, who are long-time friends of Aunty Marina and members of Wandin, were also major contributors to the event and were responsible for all the cheesecakes provided on the day.
The cheesecakes featured Burdekin plum, Davidson plum and lemon myrtle just to name a few.
On offer was also kangaroo stew and kangaroo soup.
Sponsors included Evolution Mining and Gin Gin Lions Club.
The Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors also provided funding through the Thriving Queensland Communities Grant Growing Our Vibrant Community.
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