The University of New England will launch its annual NAIDOC week celebrations with a flag-raising ceremony on the lawns of Booloominbah followed by the inaugural UNE Indigenous Researchers NAIDOC Lecture Series on July 8th.
The theme for this year’s event is Voice. Treaty. Truth. Let’s work together for a shared future in recognition of the invaluable and often unrecognised contributions in many fields that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have made and continue to make to communities and the nation.
UNE Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Todd Walker, said the annual NAIDOC week celebration is a measure of the respect the University has for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their special place in the nation’s history.
“It is also an opportunity for us to showcase the outstanding work of our Indigenous academics and students and share their achievements with the local community.”
Guest speakers at the flag-raising ceremony include Kamilaroi man and long-time social activist, Lyall Munro Jr, as well Indigenous Students Association member Ebony Williams.
Mr Munro is well known for his role in Aboriginal land rights movements including participating in major actions such as the 1972 Aboriginal Tent Embassy, 1982 Commonwealth Games protests, 1988 bicentennial protests, anti-Bjelke-Petersen actions in Queensland, and the dismantling of the gates of the Parliament Houses in both Sydney and Brisbane following failed land rights negotiations.
He was involved in the establishment of the Aboriginal Legal Service, Aboriginal Medical Service and the Aboriginal housing co-operatives in the 1970s, and was a key spokesperson when nineteen-year-old Aboriginal man Ronald McIntosh was shot and killed by white locals in Moree in 1982.
The flag-raising ceremony will begin at 10.30am on Monday, 8 July. It will be followed by light refreshments. The inaugural UNE Indigenous Researchers NAIDOC lecture will be held in the Oorala Centre and will start at 1pm.
Ambēyang man, Callum Clayton-Dixon, will present the talk titled “The New England Frontier Wars: 40 years of Aboriginal resistance, vigilante violence, and official subjugation.” The presentation reconstructs the history of the New England Frontier Wars as it played across the southern half of the Tableland, and nearly 40 incidents of frontier violence that have been mapped in this area.
On Tuesday 9 July at noon, Oorala will host a celebratory lunch with live music provided by well-known local musicians Col Hardy and Cyril Green.
For more information email oorala@une.edu.au or call 1800 622 384.
