Celebrate NAIDOC Week in Macquarie Park
NAIDOC Week starts this Sunday, and we’ve compiled a ‘how-to’ guide for acknowledging and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture here in Macquarie Park.
NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn and participate in celebrations of the oldest continuous living cultures on earth. This year’s theme ‘For Our Elders’, recognises the prominent place that Elders hold in our communities and families.
Did you know the electoral division of Bennelong - which includes Macquarie Park - is named after one of the most renowned Indigenous people, who was a central figure at the beginning of English settlement in Australia?
Woollarawarre Bennelong (1764 - 1813) was a young Aboriginal man who was captured by Governor Arthur Phillip in 1789. He was later taken to England where he met the king, and ultimately became a figurehead for relations between First Nations people and colonialists. You can discover his story this NAIDOC week via the City of Ryde’s Finding Bennelong story site.
What’s on in Macquarie Park?
Macquarie Centre have embraced NAIDOC week this year, hosting a calendar of events and commissioning the above new work of art on the theme of “For our elders” by artist Joanna Cassady.
Tuesday July 4th
10:00am - 2:00pm
Level 4, near Timezone
Bookings Essential
On Wednesday July 5th, Macquarie University and the CSIRO are cohosting a free public lecture on “Deadly” Dark Skies: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Astronomy, presented by Gomeroi woman, award-winning author and science communicator, Krystal De Napoli. She will provide insight into the world’s first forms of astronomy while discussing the necessity of sustaining our dark skies. Check out the details and book now!
Did you know Macquarie University has an Indigenous Languages Library which contains more than 300 titles written in Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander languages - including our local language, Dharug?
NAIDOC Week is a great time to delve into this featured library collection - why not drop-in and take a look for yourself?
