NAIDOC Week Forum Discussion

Welcome to a NAIDOC Week Forum Discussion! We will be screening “The Sapphires” at each of our three centres. The film tells the true and courageous story of four Aboriginal singers, from an Aboriginal mission, during the Vietnam War. Afterwards you will have the opportunity to join in the discussion and discover more about the culture and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

NAIDOC Week Forum Discussion

The Sapphires is a wonderful mix of personal, family, Aboriginal, national and international history. Tony Briggs, the writer, used his mother’s personal history of entertaining troops in Vietnam as the launching place for The Sapphires story: “I really started writing the story of the Sapphires when I was having conversations with mum, probably in I’d say 2000. I noticed that she would be mentioning Vietnam a lot. And I knew about it, of course, but I’d never really asked her about it. It occurred to me that there was a lot of history that I’ve been missing out on simply because I haven’t been asking…”

This year’s NAIDOC theme is Songlines: The living narrative of our nation. It is important to acknowledge and share the turbulent past and adversity that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have had to endure. When learning of the stories of the People themselves, we too can share and add to the narrative. We can all stand tall together as a community in solidarity.

“We want to provide the community with the opportunity to discuss the challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples over the past two hundred and thirty years. Our aim is to increase cultural understanding and challenge perceptions of Aboriginal history.” – Josh Tierney (Event Organiser)

We warmly welcome our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People to attend the NAIDOC Week Forum Discussion and share their stories with others.

JNC Bondi Junction Tues 5th July – 1.30pm
59 Newland Street, Bondi Junction

JNC Randwick Wed 6th July – 1.30pm
2 Albert Street, Randwick (cnr Avoca St)

JNC Maroubra Fri 8th July – 1.30pm
Shop 2/669-673 Anzac Parade, Maroubra

RSVP to Josh as places are limited: 9349 8200

NAIDOC WEEK: History

NAIDOC stands for National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920′s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians.

NAIDOC Week is held in the first full week of July. It is a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements and is an opportunity to recognise the contributions that Indigenous Australians make to our country and our society.