Mununjali contributions celebrated

Award recipients Brad Currie, Aunty Gerry Page, Uncle Derek Fogarty, Sharne Iselin, Germaine Paulson, Waylene Currie, Aunty Janis Page
Award recipients Brad Currie, Aunty Gerry Page, Uncle Derek Fogarty, Sharne Iselin, Germaine Paulson, Waylene Currie, Aunty Janis Page

LOCALS stepped out in style to celebrate the work of Mununjali community organisations and individuals at the inaugural Mununjali NAIDOC Gala.

Mununjali Community Organisation Acknowledgement awards were presented to Mununjali Traditional Elders, Round Mountain Maibin Jahyilah Yahgilah men’s group, Yugambeh Land Enterprise and Mununjali Housing and Development Company Limited.

Those awards were accepted by Aunty Gerry and Aunty Janis Page, Sharne Iselin, Germaine Paulson and Brad Currie.

Emerging Leader Waylene Currie and Cultural Knowledge Caretaker Uncle Derek Fogarty accepted Mununjali Community Acknowledgement awards.

Moving video montages played before each presentation and recipients gave heartfelt and often emotional speeches when they went up to receive their awards.

It was a night of powerful storytelling, from the moment Traditional Mununjali Elder Aunty Gerry Page gave the Welcome to Country to the end of the night when everyone hit the dance floor.

Uncle Shane Paulson gave an emotional tribute to Elders who have passed on and recalled great times around Beaudesert’s Petersen Street in the early 1970s.

The 2024 NAIDOC Week theme, ‘Keep the Fire Burning – Blak, Loud and Proud’ befitted memories of literally keeping the fires burning at home to put food on the table for family.

There were also proud reflections on the work of emerging leaders in the community, the young ones keeping the fire burning today.

It was a vibrant celebration of community and culture, featuring performances from Mununjali Ngari Dancers, Wagga TSI Dance Company, local legend Brad Currie and visiting live acts Rochelle Pitt and the Unity Band.

In glamorous gowns and sharp suits, locals strutted the red carpet, hit up the photo booth and dined on a three-course meal catered by Jymbilung House.

Special mention was given to Stevi Knagge and her team from creative agency Ochre Strokes, who produced the event.

The 2024 Mununjali NAIDOC Gala was created from an idea seeded by the Mununjali Traditional Elders, who identified the need to have a space where members of the Mununjali community could get dressed up and celebrate.

The aim is for the gala to become an established annual event on the local calendar.

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About Susie Cunningham 554 Articles
Susie is an experienced journalist with a love of sharing local stories and being part of the community. She is one of the partners behind Scenic Rim Media - the company that owns Beaudesert Bulletin, Canungra Times and Tamborine Mountain News.