Ararat Rural City Community Gathers to Celebrate NAIDOC Week

This week marks National NADOC Week, a time to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

On Monday, Ararat Gallery TAMA invited members of the community to celebrate with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony in the Gallery’s Courtyard, conducted by Paul Kelly, a proud Gunditjmara - Kirrae Wurrong man, and a highly regarded yidaki (didgeridoo) player and cultural performer.

The event drew more than 70 attendees from the Ararat Rural City community and wider region, and concluded with afternoon tea in the Gallery's Studio.

Ararat Rural City Council Deputy Mayor, Cr Bob Sanders, spoke at the event, emphasising the significance of National NAIDOC Week, stating “NAIDOC Week is an opportunity to learn from the incredible resilience and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, who have overcome immense challenges and continue to do so.

“This week calls for us to reflect, celebrate, and truly listen. It's an opportunity to build stronger relationships based on mutual respect and understanding, creating a more connected community for all, while committing to a future of genuine reconciliation.”

National NADOC Week serves as an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the world’s oldest, continuous living cultures.

This year’s celebrations marked 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience under the theme The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, which acknowledges not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of young leaders, the vision of communities, and the legacy of ancestors.