7 July 2023
NAIDOC Week celebrates and recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Every year at Southern Cross Care Qld (SCCQ), we acknowledge and recognise NAIDOC Week, and this year’s NAIDOC theme ‘For our Elders’ is close to our hearts, given the community of people we serve across our services.
A special event held at SCCQ’s Support Centre welcomed staff and guests to celebrate NAIDOC week with Prayer, special guest speakers and an indigenous inspired morning tea. CEO, Jason Eldering also spoke about SCCQ’s Reconcilation journey at the event,
“The development of our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for SCCQ will continue our recognition of Traditional Custodianship by First Nation Peoples, formalise our commitment to reconciliation and help us to work towards reducing the gap of inequality experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples,” said Jason.
Contemporary indigenous artist Wendy Rix, a proud Yuwaalaraay woman from Goodooga in New South Wales (and now a QLD local) also attended the event, unveiling her artwork titled ‘Community, Care & Connection’ which was commissioned by SCCQ. Wendy explains the piece as,
“The organisation (SCCQ) is represented by the meeting place by the coast, with the cross in the centre and with all the other services spread throughout the region. They are all connected by long journey lines – physical journey, as well as spiritual, or individuals, staff, clients & community. U shapes represent people. The cracked mud effect is my representation of my country, hot and dry. It is also everyone’s connection to our land.”
We thank Wendy for this stunning artwork which represents who we are and the connection, recognition and value we place on First Nations People.
The event concluded with guests enjoying an indigenous inspired spread of morning tea delights by local supplier Figjam & Co, who are 100% Indigenous owned and operated and source local ingredients from seasonal bush tucker crops that are cultivated by First Nations owned and operated properties and social enterprises in Southeast Queensland.
