CELEBRATING Mununjali people and inspiring the next generation to stay connected to culture will be the focus at 2024 Mununjali NAIDOC Day.
The free family event for the whole community will start with a Welcome to Country at 9am and continue until 3pm on Saturday, July 6 at Jubilee Park, Beaudesert.
There will be traditional dances by Mununjali Ngari, JJ Club and a Torres Strait Islander group, live music from Brad Currie and Kiara Hill and kids will be entertained by Nana Magic.
There will be free kids rides and activities, including an art tent with Uncle Derek Fogarty, jumping castles, an inflatable basketball shootout and an obstacle course.
Jymbilung House tucker tent will sell hamburgers and a sausage sizzle and there will be Indigenous owned market stalls selling arts, crafts, bush remedies and more.
There will be live radio broadcasts and stalls promoting organisations the Mununjali community works with, like Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services, McAuley College, Kalwun, Headspace, the Benevolent Society, SES, and Indigenous Liaison Officers.
Event organiser Robbie Antcliff from Mununjali Housing and Development encouraged all people to come along to the day, which attracts people from across south-east Queensland.
“This year’s NAIDOC theme is, ‘Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud’ and for us it’s not just acknowledging NAIDOC for the week but celebrating our achievements and what we do in the community every day and keeping the fire burning by keeping the conversations going, keep working towards reconciliation,” she said.
“The day is based around culture and education for the community, so the Elders will be there to share and be present.”
She said it was about inspiring and encouraging children.
“The Jabu Jabuny (JJ Club) kids do their program throughout the year and their main event is NAIDOC Day, where they dance in front of their family and the community,” she said.
“It’s always a highlight, having the kids perform so their family can see what they’ve been learning. That also gives other kids the courage or curiosity to say, ‘I want to do that too’. It’s about making sure we’ve got the education and resources for kids to be proud of who they are and inspiring them to take on roles in the community and be part of the Mununjali culture.”
