PCYC Queensland celebrates NAIDOC Week 2022

PCYC Queensland recently celebrated NAIDOC Week, embracing the theme of ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’. The 2022 theme encouraged a focus on amplifying Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples voices to narrow the gap between aspiration and reality, good intent and outcome. 

As the week comes to an end, we look back on how some of our clubs celebrated with their community. 

PCYC Aurkun

PCYC Aurukun celebrated NAIDOC Week with the first PCYC Aurukun Youth NAIDOC Ball. The culmination of 2 months of planning by the PCYC Aurukun Youth Leadership Team, the event saw 60 local youth donning ball gowns and formal wear to step out in style and embrace the NAIDOC 2022 theme. Formally Ever After and local volunteers came together to provide, alter and prepare stunning outfits for each young person for a night of good food, music and fun.

Group of people in basketball court with formal attire on. Various colours gowns and suits.

The club also celebrated the achievements of their young Indigenous leaders with the PCYC Aurukun NAIDOC Youth Awards held at the end of the week. Congratulations to the award recipients for their ongoing displays of leadership and commitment to their community. 

Check out the PCYC Aurukun NAIDOC Youth Award recipients on the PCYC Aurukun Facebook page.

PCYC Mount Isa

PCYC Mount Isa joined their community at Minnie Davis Park for the local NAIDOC Week celebrations, assisting with sausage sizzle duties and running games and activities for local young people. Youth Club Manager, Aimee, was delighted with the event.

“It was wonderful to have so many community members together celebrating this event in our community,” she said. 

“Together we can achieve great things.” 

PCYC Hervey Bay

PCYC Hervey Bay celebrated NAIDOC Week with their Ghundus Disco. The club welcomed local young people for a night of dancing, face painting, food and music! 

All who attended this year’s annual event had a great time and the countdown for next year’s NAIDOC Week Ghundus Disco has already begun! 

PCYC Mackay

PCYC Mackay opened their celebrations with a traditional smoking ceremony from local Elders.  

Attendees were treated to bead and weaving demonstrations from local Aunties and delicious Kup Murri prepared by local Uncles.  

Dancers and didgeridoo players added to the incredible atmosphere as the local community came together to mark NAIDOC Week.

 

Collage of three vertical photos, side by side. First photo of men cooking Kup Murri on hot rocks covering food with tin foil. Middle photo of woman weaving leaves in black jacket and blue jeans. Right: Children in group happy smiling at camera.

PCYC Mornington Island

PCYC Mornington Island held their NAIDOC Carnival on Friday treating participants and spectators to a delicious barbeque and impressive array of NAIDOC themed sweets.  

The festival was an exciting celebration of NAIDOC Week with dancers, Indigenous games and spear throwing and giveaways for all involved! 

Cookies in roows with Aboriginal flag (black and red rectangles stacked with yellow circle in centre. Torres Stait flag on cupcakes, NAIDOC logo and PCYC Queensland logo.

PCYC Napranum

PCYC Napranum celebrated NAIDOC Week with a community fun day full of games, art and crafts, delicious food and a visit from the Australian Army.
The highlight of the day was the Soldiers vs Kids Tug-O-War!

The day brought together the entire community and saw many smiling (and painted!) faces.

As NAIDOC Week 2022 comes to an end, PCYC Queensland clubs and communities will continue to get up, stand up and show up to amplify Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples voices.

Discover more about PCYC Queensland’s Indigenous Programs.