SHAKIERA WILLIAMS REPORTS

RESPECT: NAIDOC organisers with Mayor Greg Williamson, Mr and Mrs NAIDOC and traditional dancers from Brisbane at Queens Park

NAIDOC pride

MACKAY’S proud indigenous communities came together in record numbers to celebrate NAIDOC Week, marking week’s end with a march through the city followed by a day-long festival in Queens Park.

The day attracted first nations people from throughout the region and further afield, with stalls, a symbolic flag raising, traditional dances and the introduction of the elected Mr and Miss NAIDOC for 2021.

The Mackay NAIDOC Committee Chairperson Rebecca Budby and her team began organising the event at the beginning of the year, following the cancellation of last year’s event due to COVID.

“Last year it was postponed, then we had like a virtual one in November but it’s nothing like what we have had to organise for today,” Ms Budby said.

“I don’t think I have ever seen such a big crowd. But I think because we missed the NAIDOC last year everyone’s decided to show up today.”

The event included dances by indigenous dance groups, such as the Wakka Wakka tribe who travelled from Cherbourg and Brisbane for their performance.

The celebration also marked the debut of the 2021 Mr NAIDOC Joshua Yow Yeh and Miss NAIDOC Jayla Yasserie, who were chosen for sharing what NAIDOC meant to them.

“We went to an interview night and we got asked a series of questions about general cultural knowledge and what NAIDOC means to us and what the theme of NAIDOC means to us,” Mr Yow Yeh said.

“And they elected the Mr NAIDOC and Miss NAIDOC the next night after that.”

The Mackay NAIDOC committee was overwhelmed with support from the Mackay community.

“Being Heal Country as the theme this year, I think it’s brilliant that we’ve had so many people come and make those connections with family that they hadn’t seen for months or weeks, as well as with the country.” said Chairperson Rebecca Budby.

“I would like to thank all the stallholders for supporting the event this year.”

Briefs In beTween

Mackay parents will have the chance to hear first hand from experts about “Raising Tween & Teen Daughters in the 21st Century” thanks to Redhotblue. Specifically helpful for parents of 8-18 year old daughters who are struggling with arguments, decisions around safety, or maintaining their critical connection, it promises to inspire change between parents and their daughter.

Two hurt

TWO people have been taken to Mackay Hospital, both in a stable condition, following an alleged assault in Andergrove overnight. A man, believed to be in his 20s, was treated for head injuries and a female, also reportedly in her 20s, was treated for back injuries.Paramedics and Police responded to the incident, at a location off Bedford Road, at 1.52am on Tuesday.

Plant theft

Police are seeking assistance in relation to the location of plant equipment which, on June 8, was stolen from a construction site on the Bowen Developmental Road, Mount Coolon.The equipment cannot be lifted by hand, and would require machinery to remove. If you have any information about the location of the stolen items, or the offence itself, please contact Police Link or Crimestoppers.

Dramatic police pursuit in Andergrove

FROM PAGE ONE

Frighteningly, he was oblivious to what was happening until he was woken up by his distraught mum, who had arrived home around 4am after night shift, to find her house broken into.

“The scariest thing is to probably know I was in the house alone when they were in my house – and in Mum’s bedroom,” Taylor said.

“To wake up and see my mum in distress was probably one of the hardest things.

“To know that if she was home, it could have ended a lot differently … that she or I, myself, if I had woken up and confronted them, could have been hurt.”

It is believed the suspects entered through an unsecured back door as the teenager slept and ransacked the Andergrove home, stealing many belongings including family heirlooms and his car.

Just two months ago, Taylor’s parents had gifted him the car for his birthday.

The thieves had stolen fuel from multiple service stations while travelling north, but were intercepted by police in Bowen.

“I got my car for my birthday, so it is really special to me and now that we have got the car back, I just don’t think that it will ever feel the same.

“As we went to pick it up from the police station in Bowen I just didn’t feel comfortable hopping into a car that didn’t feel like mine.

“I was still buzzing that I got my Ps and that I could drive around. I felt so fortunate to have a car to be able to do whatever I want with my friends.

“Having something like this happen to me definitely opened my eyes to always make sure that I am being as safe as possible whenever I’m doing anything.

“Not just by myself but with my friends and I’ll definitely pass that message onto them for when they go to get their Ps.”

The family had previously felt safe in their neighbourhood and Taylor had never felt uncomfortable about being home alone while his parents were at work.

And while they have changed locks, added padlocks to gates and are just more safety-conscious in general about their home, he said his family refused to let the intruders get the better of them.

“It just makes me sick that people have the audacity to do this.”

Despite the Wild family’s heartache, they are thankful for the support they have received from the Mackay community.

“I would just like to say thank you for the involvement that the police and especially the community have had with the case,” Taylor said.

“It really means a lot to know that there are some really good people out there and that these criminals are slowly getting what they deserve.”

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