The Kempsey Shire came together today for the inaugural NAIDOC Week March to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and achievements.
Kempsey Shire Council staff met hundreds of residents at the Kempsey pool on Belgrave Street to begin the march.
Local Aboriginal people shared their culture with all, providing didgeridoo and stick performances while the march took place.
Afterwards a flag raising ceremony in Services Club Park was held, where Uncle John Kelly performed a traditional smoking ceremony, followed by a community barbeque.
Kempsey Local Aboriginal Land Council Chief Executive Officer, Greg Douglas, addressed the crowd during the event.
“We’ve all got a big stake in this country, Dunghutti/Thunggutti Country, and we are all one mob,” said Mr Douglas.
This year’s NAIDOC Week theme is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!, which asks the community to come together for systemic change and rally around our mob, our Elders and our communities.
Each year in July, Australia marks NAIDOC Week to celebrate the achievements, accomplishments and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
