Benalla’s NAIDOC Week family fun day embraced by community

“It was great being able to involve so many young Aboriginal community members in the event and the local organisations who support them,” she said.

“Once again, we had a huge turn-out from community members and organisation supporters attend our event.

“Lots of connections were made and friendships rekindled.

“The event’s success can be gauged by the number of happy faces and the degree of crowd involvement in activities.

“Participants expressed thanks for having a local cultural event which they were able to share with family, friends and colleagues, as well as make new connections.”

NAIDOC Week celebrates and recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year marked another powerful milestone: Fifty Years of Deadly.

It’s a tribute to the people who built this movement, the Elders who stood firm, the organisers who made space, the artists who turned resistance into expression, and the communities who keep showing up, year after year.

Fifty Years of Deadly is a marker of both time passed and the momentum still building.

This year’s Family Fun Day was jointly planned and funded by Benalla Health, Benalla Rural City Council’s Social Inclusion Action Group, Hume Dhelk Dja, Tomorrow Today, and the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency - while being overseen by the Benalla Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Caucus and Advisory Committee.

Caucus and Advisory chair Aunty Sharon Nylen thanked everyone for continuing to support Benalla’s annual NAIDOC celebrations.

She said she acknowledged the efforts of all involved to ensure this growing event remains free and accessible to the community.

“This year we were able to provide new cultural activities such as weaving and promote community participation through sport, music, dance, art and craft activities and exhibitions,” she said.

“We had an increase in our local trading tables as well as information stalls and displays.

“We again promoted youth participation in the lead-up and during the event.

“The Benalla Flexible Learning and EdSpace schools were our food vendors, Benalla P-12 College senior music students our entertainment, and Anganya students our co-emcees.

“The weather turned on sunshine, which meant we were able to conduct our Welcome and Smoking Ceremonies outside, along with crowd participation in the Galnya Yenbena’s traditional Welcome dance.”

Benalla P-12’s school band performed outside with its ‘plugged-in’ sets, which encouraged crowd participation with percussion instruments and dancing.

The students, led by Edwin Manono, also held a clap-stick and dancing display inside.

The Cultural Police Van and Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service bus set up in the oval courtyard.

There was also some outside sports clinics, giant games and a tug-of-war on the oval.

On top of the Rose City’s annual NAIDOC Week celebrations, the inaugural NAIDOC Week Benalla exhibition, will run from July 3 to September 6 at the Pop-Up Benalla Art Gallery.

Ms Atkinson said at that exhibition, local First Nations artists of all ages are showcasing a broad range of works and mediums.

“In addition to individual artworks by local Elders, there are works by senior students at Benalla P-12 College and the Flexible Learning Centre,” she said.

“Tomorrow Today’s Anganya artist group, led by Aunty Cheryl Cooper, have special NAIDOC displays, as does Benballa P-12 College’s Waller St Campus junior students, with their local totems artworks.

“It was a privilege to again be part of this year’s event planning.

“In the second year in this role, I’ve been able to grow and cement connections with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

“I’m already looking forward to next year’s event, in which we can further expand on the cultural contributions and heritage in Benalla.

“So, save the date for Benalla NAIDOC 2027 on Tuesday, July 6, 2027.”