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30 June 2009
NAIDOC flag raising ceremony
Byron Shire Council is proud to support NAIDOC Week 2009 and invites the community to attend a Flag Raising Ceremony on Wednesday 8 July outside Council Chambers, Station Street, Mullumbimby.
This year’s NAIDOC theme is 'Honouring our Elders, Nurturing our Youth'.
Byron Shire Mayor Jan Barham said, “NAIDOC Week is a significant annual event that celebrates the distinct cultural history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
“This is an opportunity to acknowledge and thank the Bundjalung people for the rich culture and heritage they protect and foster within our Shire.
“They are the original custodians of NSW northern coastal areas and provide a constant understanding of the significance of our environment through education, arts and music.
“NAIDOC week is a celebration all Australians can take pride in and embrace,” Mayor Barham said.
The program will include a Welcome to Country address by a Byron Bay Bundjalung (Arakwal) representative.
The Welcome to Country address will followed by the Flag Raising Ceremony by Auntie Dulcie, the remaining elder and traditional custodian of ByronBay.
All are welcome to attend the Flag Raising Ceremony at 10.30am on Wednesday 8 July at Byron Shire Council’s administration centre in Mullumbimby. Morning tea will conclude the ceremony.
Byron Shire Council has also provided financial support for the NAIDOC 2009 Cultural Awareness Family Day event to be held in ApexPark on Thursday 16 July from 10.30am.
Council's Aboriginal project officer, Val Saunders said everyone is welcome to attend the family event which will feature traditional dancers, entertainment and BBQ.
Other NAIDOC Week celebrations include the announcement of a Byron Shire Council young indigenous artwork competition.
The winning image or artwork will be printed on canvas and displayed at the Byron YAC and in the Council Chamber, plus turned into a postcard for promotional use by the artist.
Byron Shire council has also recently setup an Aboriginal Project Reference Group. The group has been formed to prepare a protocol model for Byron Shire Council.
The model will be based on the Community Cultural Development NSW Document ‘Respect, Acknowledge, Listen’.
Membership of the group includes Mayor Barham, Councillor Tom Tabart and representatives from Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council, Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council, Bundjalung Council of Elders, Bundjalung of Byron Bay Aboriginal Corporation (Arakwal) and Madhima Gulgan.
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Media Contact: Donna Johnston
Media Communications Officer
Byron Shire Council
Ph: 02 6626 7320
Byron Shire is located at Australia's eastern-most point with a population of almost 29,000. It is a thriving community where residents and visitors live, work and play in a sustainable environment and where Council strives to deliver the highest standard of local government services and infrastructure.
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