General News
1 August, 2024
Nyngan’s NAIDOC Week
‘Blak, Loud and Proud’ is the theme for the 2024 NAIDOC week, which was officially opened locally on Monday, July 29 with a community ceremony at the Winangali Walk meeting spot in Nyngan.
School students from all Nyngan public, St Joseph’s, the high school, Nyngan Preschool, and Girilambone Public School took part in the opening. The Wakakirri Dance Group which includes children and teenagers performed a series of dances choreographed by cultural leader Jamie Mclennan. It was an inclusive ceremony held at the new Winangali site, near the Nyngan cemetery.
Nyngan Local Aboriginal Lands Council president Raylene Weldon was the master of ceremonies and invited the large crowd to stand and participate in the Welcome to Country in language before inviting a group of high school students to sing the Australian National Anthem, also in language. Children from Nyngan Preschool started the entertainment proceedings singing and dancing to “We are Australian” in language and English. Students from each school were then invited to give a short address. Bogan Shire Council mayor, Glen Neill, also spoke.
All speakers referenced the 2024 ‘Blak, Loud and Proud’ theme in their addresses. Nyngan’s NAIDOC Week special guest this year was Aboriginal Education Consultative Group NSW president Raymond Ingrey, who reflected on the previous year and the disappointment of the Australian Indigenous Voice Referendum. Mr Ingrey praised the Nyngan Indigenous community for showing strong leadership and said the continued effort at local level to teach and embrace indigenous culture was important to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people in general.
The Aboriginal, Torres Strait, and national flags were raised by Nyngan Local Aboriginal Land Council executive members Raylene Weldon, Veneta Dutton, and Marea Johnson.