Celebrating NAIDOC Week

We recently celebrated NAIDOC week at the Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL), embracing this year's theme of 'For Our Elders' by getting involved and learning about culture.

Vic NAIDOC Flag Raising

​​We commenced celebrations with a group attending the official VIC NAIDOC Flag Raising at Federation Square early Monday morning.

The event officially marks the beginning of NAIDOC Week in Victoria, bringing community together to publicly commemorate recognise the week's importance.

It also honours continued connection to culture, country, and language of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with a Smoking Ceremony, Welcome to Country and a moment of silence for our people who have gone before us.

Clothing the Gaps Walk/Run

As the week continued, many teams and individuals participated in the Clothing the Gaps Walk/Run. Taking on this challenge together was our Executive Director team who collectively aimed to walk 100km throughout the week.

With much passion and enthusiasm, they smashed their goal, covering a total of 323km covering many different countries, including the Wurundjeri, Dja Dja Wurrung, Woiwurrung, Bunurong, Yugambeh, Bundjalung, Turrbal and Jagera lands.

Vic NAIDOC March

On Friday 7 July, we proudly walked together as one BSL in the VIC NAIDOC March. The group met at Head Office in Fitzroy and continued onto Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) in Nicholson Street and joining the rest of the march through the city to Federation Square

VIC NAIDOC Ball

We rounded out the week with our First Nations staff, family and supporters attending the prestigious VIC NAIDOC Ball. Featuring an exceptional line up of First Nations Cultural performers, entertainers and speakers, the event was a breathtaking celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, where tradition and elegance intertwined. It was a great way to commemorate the vibrant week that was NAIDOC Week. Co-Chairs of the Vic NAIDOC Committee, Aunty Pam Pederson and Aunty Alice Kolasa delivering inspiring speeches, with a special moment of silence dedicated to Elders by Uncle Alan Thorpe, Director at Dardi Munwurro.

It was an honour to come together and celebrate the rich heritage and culture of First Nations peoples.