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INDIGENOUS ROUND COINCIDING with NAIDOC Week, the GVL celebrated the Aboriginal people across our community on the weekend by outfitting clubs in indigenous designed apparel. Jimmy Heridge is pictured here flying high for the Mansfield Eagles in his special garb against Seymour.
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PETER BROWN BEHIND THE MIC
Full story in Sport. PHOTO: Paul Martin
Mansfield celebrates NAIDOC Week LAST Sunday, the Mansfield community gathered to mark the start of NAIDOC Week with a range of events celebrating the achievements and culture of Indigenous Australians. Over 130 people attended the official smoking and welcome ceremony at the Gadhaba Gathering Place. Gadhaba chairperson Miranda Connaughton was very thankful for the interest of the community during the week’s celebrations. “It was a really delightful NAIDOC Week, with good attendance at all events,” Ms Connaughton said. “The success of NAIDOC
BY HANNAH KENNELLY hkennelly@ nemedia.com.au
Week could not happen without such outstanding support from the community, all the Gadhaba members, the Mansfield Shire Council, and Mansfield Hospital.” Cr Paul Sladdin and Cr Steve Rabie attended the launch on behalf of Mansfield Shire Council and said it was wonderful to see so many members of the community present. “To my knowledge, this was the largest NAIDOC
event to ever take place in the shire,” Cr Rabie said. The welcome ceremony was followed by the raising of the Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander Flags and the unveiling of the new mosaic rocks in the Gadhaba Gathering Place. Created by local Indigenous residents, the gathering place was designed to improve mental health and connectivity within the community. The completed mosaic illustrates the annual September migration of Deberra (Bogong) moths in flight over the Mansfield region on their way to
spend summer in the High Country. Mosaic artist Sue BinzerJones said the artwork “provided an opportunity for meaningful connections for our communities”. Cr Rabie complimented Ms Binzer-Jones’ artwork, describing it as the highlight of the event. He also extended his gratitude to Aunty Bernadette Franklin and Aunty Angela Ten Buuren Franklin for the Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony. “It was great to see people invested in learning from the Taungurung elders and our
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flora and bush tucker. Taungurung artist Cassie Leatham also led popular weaving and clay ochre sculpture workshops on Thursday. The Mansfield Armchair Cinema hosted two sold out screenings of The Last Daughter and Miranda Connaughton treated Mansfield kids to a Storytime session at the library. “The children seemed really happy during storytelling,” Ms Connaughton said. “They joined in and none fell asleep, even though snakes ate the lead characters in two stories.”
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Indigenous community,” he said. Aunty Bernadette Franklin said it was fantastic to see the turnout last Sunday. “We were pleased to have a diverse group of people celebrate with us, including Member for Eildon Cindy McLeish,” she said. After the welcome ceremony, many community members participated in numerous cultural activities and events throughout the week. On Tuesday, Uncle Vern Simsen took keen walkers on an educational trail around Mullum Wetlands where they learned about local Indigenous
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