Townsville NAIDOC launched from Barracks

Story And Pics

BY ALF WILSON

NAIDOC celebrations in Townsville were launched from the Jezzine Barracks on Sunday from 8.30am.

Dancers included the Torres Strait Komet Group while Torres News correspondent Velma Gara did a welcome on behalf of Torres Strait Islanders and made a touching speech.

“From when I started working in the media in the mid-1980s to now, the objective has always been to be the voice for our people,” she said. “To let the wider community know that we speak different languages, have created song and dance for our mob.

“I worked at the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Media Association and in those days we used

Otari reel to reel, Sony cassette recorders and playing vinyls.

“It was a specialist field you had to be taught to use those equipment.

“Nowadays, a mobile phone is all you would require to record and video.

“Technology and social media has opened the door for anyone to be a storyteller to capture events.

“This year’s NAIDOC theme – For Our Elders –resonates well with being a voice for our people.

“We always record our elders, so families and communities have them for future generations.

“It has always been our elders who we draw strength from for their knowledge and experience.

“They are our cultural knowledge holders and trailblazers.

“So my message here today is to record and video our elders so we do have their recordings forever.”

The Torres News spoke to a lot of Torres Strait Islander men and women including Topsy Mola.

“This has been a very successful morning and everybody enjoyed themselves,” Mrs Mola said.

At around 10.40am everybody walked nearby for the flag raising.

Aunty Virginia raised the Aboriginal flag, Charles Cloudy, with assistance from Velma raised the Torres Strait flag and a council representative raised the Australian flag.

Events continued over the week with another highlight, the NAIDOC march, set for tomorrow along Thuringowa Drive, followed by a Family Fun day at Riverway park.