There will be plenty happening in Moree at the end of the month to celebrate all the good things happening in town to build stronger relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people as part of 2018 National Reconciliation Week.
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National Reconciliation Week runs from May 27 to June 3.
These dates mark two milestones in Australia’s reconciliation journey – the 1967 referendum and the historic Mabo decision, respectively.
The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2018 is ‘Don’t Keep History a Mystery’ which invites Australians to learn, share and grow by exploring our past, learning more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures, and developing a deeper understanding of our national story.
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This year’s theme will be recognised throughout Moree’s Reconciliation Week, which features a full schedule of events organised by the Moree Reconciliation Week committee.
Committee chair Cathy Budda-Deen said the week is a great chance to celebrate the advancement of reconciliation in Moree.
“It’s important in general that we celebrate the excellence that’s happening in our community and how Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people are working together to build a better future,” she said.
“We always hear the negative but Reconciliation Week reminds people of the positive; instead of dwelling on the negative it’s important to sit back and remember good things happen in Moree and good people are working together to make Moree a better place.”
Moree’s 2018 Reconciliation Week schedule will begin on Friday, May 25 with a Sorry Day event at Pius X at 10am to mark National Sorry Day (May 26) which recognises and commemorates the mistreatment of Aboriginal people.
The feature event on the Reconciliation Week calendar is the annual Reconciliation Week Gala Awards night on Friday, June 1.
The awards recognise individual, business, community organisations and initiatives that are advancing reconciliation and respectful relationships in Moree.
This year there are 32 awards categories and so far, the committee has received nominations in each one.
“Every year it’s growing,” Ms Budda-Deen said.
“We have more nominations and more excitement. We also have new sponsors on board which is great.”
Ms Budda-Deen encourages people to get their nominations in before the closing date on Thursday, May 17.
To receive a nomination form, contact Glen Crump at Miyay Birray on 6752 6038 or call the Aboriginal Employment Strategy on 6752 3422.
Another highlight of the week will be the laying of plaques on more than 170 unmarked Aboriginal graves at Moree Cemetery.
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The laying of the plaques will mark the end of a decades-long project by Aunty Noeline Briggs-Smith who has been working to identify the deceased at the unmarked grave sites for the past 30 years.
The event at Moree Cemetery will be held on Thursday, May 31, with students from Moree Secondary College and St Philomena’s School to lay the plaques.
The Reconciliation Games, to be held on Wednesday, May 30 will once again be a popular event as teams of four tackle obstacles designed to test a range of skills, while the Reconciliation Cook-Off, on Tuesday, May 29, is expected to be bigger and better than last year.
Other events on the calendar include the Reconciliation Red Shield Appeal on Sunday, May 27 (10am to 2pm), a breakfast at the Barwon School (8am), the official opening at the Dhiiyaan Centre (10.30am) and a combined Reconciliation and Catholic Schools Week Liturgy at St Philomena’s (12.30pm) on Monday, May 28, a reconciliation morning tea at Moree Public School (10.30am) on Tuesday, May 29, a morning tea at Homes North (10am), a LAHC Reconciliation maintenance pop-up day at Cooee Parl (10am to 2pm), an event at Moree East Public School (12pm to 1.45pm) on Wednesday, May 30, the Moree Boomerangs versus Moree Boars rugby league match on Saturday, June 2 and a church service at the Salvation Army Church on Sunday, June 3.
