Shailer Park State School on Wednesday July 13 hosted the annual NAIDOC for Jarjums event organised by the local Early Years Network committee.
This committee is made up of a number of Early Childhood Centres and community organisations, and is held at Shailer Park State School.
“We were lucky enough to have the Nunukul Yuggera Aboriginal dancers, and the Mabuyag Dance Group perform traditional dancers and a smoking ceremony to open our NAIDOC celebrations for the day,” principal Karen Kuskey said.
“We also welcomed Aboriginal elder Elder Uncle Barry to our school.”
There were about 1500 people in attendance, enjoying morning events that included presentations, hands on activities and taste testing new flavours.Â
These were presented by a range of organisations that gave up their time to be involved, including:
- Bravehearts
- Logan Together
- First Five Forever
- Bush Tucker Tasting
- Deadly Choices
- Rosies Early Learning
- Communities for Children
“The children loved the Loose Parts play, the fire engine that came along to join in, our local police officers and many more community members that saw the potential to support our local community of children and to engage them in hands on activities that promote Indigenous culture and how we can ‘Get Up, Stand Up and Show UP’,” Ms Kuskey said.
“Look out for our 2023 NAIDOC celebration that will again support our community of children.”
About Nangara Group:Â
Our Nangara Group (founded in 2017) is made up of volunteers from local organisations in Logan.
Finalists in the Queensland Reconciliation Awards 2021 the back bone team of Sharon Saunders and Kellie Still from Inclusion Support Qld, Kristy Morgan from Goodstart Early Learning Shailer Park, Kerry Smith from We Belong Family Day Care and Uncle Barry Watson, Community Elder have recently been joined by Janelle Delahunty from Shailer Park Primary School and Tara Hill from Phoenix Support for Educators.Â
Our goal is create a NAIDOC event which celebrates our First Nations Peoples and provides a space for our jarjumms to come together and engage with community in a day of fun, games, culture, dance, music, language and learning.
Early Childhood services, schools and community organisations come together to support us to provide this event for the community which see’s approximately one and a half thousand people enjoying a day focused on a growing respect for, and understanding of, both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and  knowledges.
Our Nangara Group was thankful to Shailer Park State School for providing the space for us to hold the event this year and supporting us  to drive a movement of understanding, reconciliation and respect in our community and particularly in the hearts and minds of our little Jarjums.
Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!
