The local NAIDOC Awards are only one of the activities which have been organised by a combined group made up of members of the Narromine Local Aboriginal Lands Council and the Narromine Community Working Party.

NAIDOC Week gives the community an opportunity to raise awareness and to celebrate the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of our small community.

This year’s National NAIDOC Theme is Honouring our Elders, Nurturing our Youth.

The opening ceremony at the Narromine Shire Council Chambers on Monday July 6 will herald the beginning of the week’s activities with an official opening, welcome to country, dance items and flag raising followed by a morning tea.

The highlight of the morning will be the presentation of NAIDOC awards which provides an opportunity for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to have their community and cultural contributions to Narromine acknowledged.

Lynda Edwards from the NAIDOC organising group said the week’s theme was a two way street between Aboriginal Elders and the community’s youth.

“It is about our Elders teaching us about life, respect for each other and passing on their

experiences to the youth,” she said.

“NAIDOC week is about showing that Aboriginal people are successful in all aspects of the community. The community needs to understand Australia before white settlers arrived but Aborigines also need to work with the local community as well, it is about respecting each other’s history and views.”

Mrs Edwards said NAIDOC week achieved this by celebrating Aboriginal culture and heritage but also recognising the current achievements of Aborigines.

Applications are now open to anyone in the community who would like to nominate someone who they think deserves to be recognised.

You can collect an application form from either the Narromine News and Trangie Advocate, Narromine Local Aboriginal Lands Council Office or the Narromine Shire Council. These applications need to be dropped off to the Narromine Shire Council by 5pm on Wednesday.