Community spirit shines with a day of cultural enrichment at Bribie’s NAIDOC event

Story by Alistair Gray and Sheree Hoddinett

Picture courtesy of Terry Young, Member for Longman’s Office

It was all fun and learning for the local kids at the recent NAIDOC event, pictured here with Terry Young, MP

Wow! What a incredible day! It was so great to see the local community get behind and support the hard work of the Pumicestone Indigenous Education & Employment Council Inc (better known as PIEEC), at their recent NAIDOC week event at Brennan Park, Bongaree, bringing young and old members of the community together to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievements. Held on Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi land by the Youth Advocacy Centre (YAC) and Pumicestone Indigenous Education & Employment Council Inc. (PIEEC), this was the third time for their NAIDOC event, which in previous years was hosted at the Bribie Skatepark.

Although held prior to NAIDOC week, it was all in conjunction to the theme Get Up, Stand Up and Show Up. Led by PIEEC jarjums (children) and cultural Ambassador Craig Weribone-Wright, PIEEC chair Michelle Watson was the MC with community Elders watching over the flag raising. Kristine Ellis shared the history of NAIDOC and Indigenous Human Rights lawyer Trudy Broderick was the guest speaker for the day. Indigenous Insights performed a children's concert, featuring singing and dancing and Murri Tukka educated the crowd on bush tucker and DJ Waria provided deadly music.

So much expanded from the previous year’s event, including storytelling for the kids, cultural dancing, music, indigenous food, ceremonies, and entertainmen, a cultural day of fun and learning.

Those in attendance were also able to take part in an inflatable ball activity supplied by the Institute of Urban Indigenous Health, early years Yoga with Aunty Deb Jackson, yarns with Uncle Ron Powell, a Moreton Bay Library and Bribie Seaside Museum activity, a visit from Bribie Fire & Rescue Service, as well as involvement from Global Care Bribie, Headspace, Save the Children MYVan and USC. 

The event could not have occurred without support from Moreton Bay Regional Council, Anne Brown, Ali King, Uncle Ron Powell and R&W Bribie Island.

Terry Young, Member for Longman, spoke during the formal part of the event, where he paid tribute to the extraordinary work done by PIEEC. “The Pumicestone Indigenous Education and Employment Council have created a vessel to advocate for better learning and work outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people”, he said. “I see some of the great work the Council does, and I am proud to see groups like this forming across Longman, bringing everyone together to achieve better outcomes for the community”. Terry also acknowledged the great work the Elders and Leaders of PIEEC are doing in creating better communities through support, education, understanding and listening.