NAIDOC Week 2025 celebrated 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience, with the theme: “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy,”.
In Bellingen Shire, the Galangga Biindarray Indigenous Corporation, in partnership with the Neighbourhood Centres of the Bellingen Shire, celebrated this theme with two community events over 2 Saturdays – in Urunga and at Mylestom - celebrating Indigenous culture, heritage, and connection to Country.
The celebration at Urunga was held in the Urunga Sailing Club/Sea Scout Hall; the one at Mylestom was around the pavilion in Alma Doepel Park. A fire was lit to signify coming together and, in the front yard, a playground for the kids was created with jumping castle, face-painting, clay modelling and more.
A highlight of the celebrations was a woven tapestry on a sail that illustrated the significance of key areas of the mouth of the Bellinger and Kalang Rivers (Repton, Raleigh, Mylestom, Yellow Rock, Urunga, Hungry Head, Wenonah Head and Third Headland) and of the history of the area. Many people were heard to say that not only was the tapestry culturally significant, but was also a masterpiece of art.
The elders and other community members then related stories of their lives and relations with the land.
The event ended with a big yarning circle where the elders invited the community to be a part of their discussions.
Throughout the event there was a lot of food, including a BBQ and a kangaroo stew which was very tasty.
Many people really loved the fact that it was organised and run by Indigenous Community members and a lot of Elders attended, which made it special.
May Smith, Coordinator of the Urunga Neighbourhood Centre said “I felt very honoured to be a part of those events. I felt welcomed, and I appreciated the humour between the family members. They were both very moving days.”
