In its 50th year, NAIDOC Week honoured the young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people shaping the future.

SGCH joined Bridge Housing at Eora NAIDOC Family Fun Day in Eveleigh. It was a vibrant, multigenerational celebration of First Nations culture, strength and legacy, featuring live performances by the Buuja Buuja Butterfly Dancers, the Donovan Band and more. People of all ages came out for food and fun and you could sense the pride in the air. 

Together with Club Rivers, SGCH also held a kids’ NAIDOC art workshop. Primary schoolers were excited to take part in a school holiday boomerang painting session. One young girl drew a love heart in the colours of the Aboriginal flag and wrote SGCH next to it.  Another proudly announced she was from the neighbourhood: “I live up there and this is my second time painting boomerangs this week!” 

At Riverwood Community Centre gardens, SGCH supported a cultural performance, which included a smoking ceremony, dance and didgeridoo act with crowds learning how certain sounds represent animals. Our SGCH craft station was a hit, with many families taking part in the bracelet making, origami and colouring in. We also joined Hurstville’s 3Bridges and Fairfield Council NAIDOC celebrations, holding community stalls.

Together with our Aboriginal Tenant Group, SGCH hosted a beautiful and moving NAIDOC Week event in the Bonnyrigg Sensory Garden, bringing together about 75 community members to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

The celebration took place by our Yellamundy Garden, where the plaques with the names of Bonnyrigg’s founding Indigenous families are proudly displayed. The morning’s proceedings featured an inspiring program of traditional performances that showcased the talents of young members of the local Aboriginal community.

There was a Welcome to Country by some members of Bonnyrigg Public School’s Indigenous dance troupe, Marrabang Wagagee, followed by their beautiful traditional dances – always so wonderful to watch.  Then Bonnyrigg High School student Nikyah Clayton performed a lovely a capella version of Christine Anu’s iconic song, My Island Home.  

A smoking ceremony was held by Malcom Clayton, who has strong family ties to the Bonnyrigg area. He then led his troupe of Buuja Buuja dancers in several traditional dances.  

The event was expertly MC’ed by our customer Maureen Clayton, a proud Wiradjuri woman and convenor of our Aboriginal Tenant Group in South West Sydney. Maureen welcomed attendees and shared the rich history of NAIDOC Week, explaining how the movement began with Aboriginal groups in the 1920s seeking to raise awareness about the status and treatment of Aboriginal people. 

“NAIDOC Week is 50 – that’s a powerful milestone,” Maureen told the gathering. “Today is about remembering and celebrating the achievements of the past, the wisdom of our Elders, but also looking to the bright future ahead, and the young leaders who will take us there.” 

Special thanks were extended to our Aboriginal Tenant Group members – Maureen, Minjari, Arthur, Amanda and Jai – for their dedication and effort in making the celebration possible. 

Thank you to customers from all parts of Sydney for joining NAIDOC Week in its 50th year!  You are helping create spaces where culture is celebrated, stories are shared, and younger generations feel seen and supported.