2014 TOP END NAIDOC WEEK. Event Report

Transcription

1 2014 TOP END NAIDOC WEEK Event Report

2 Above: 2014 Top End NAIDOC Committee (Darwin Committee) members with the Elder of the Year Award Recipients Mr Desmond Mayo and Mrs Lorna Fejo. Above: 2014 Top End NAIDOC Committee (Palmerston Committee) members. Top End NAIDOC Committee PO Box 662, Karama NT 08 E: facebook: TopEnd NAIDOC 2014 National NAIDOC theme: Serving Country: Centenary and beyond.

3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The 2014 Top End NAIDOC Committee would like to acknowledge the enormous support provided for this year s events from all who contributed. A big thank you to our funding bodies the Australian Government and the Northern Territory Government for your continued support of NAIDOC Week celebrations in the Darwin region. The amount of sponsorship received this year was fantastic and we would like to show appreciation to all sponsors in particular 2014 National NAIDOC theme: Serving Country: Centenary and beyond.

4 CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS... 1 CONTENTS... 1 BACKGROUND... 1 What does NAIDOC stand for?... 1 When was NAIDOC Week?... 1 What is NAIDOC Week?... 1 What is the history of NAIDOC Week? Present... 2 STAGE 1: PLANNING AND COORDINATION... 3 NAIDOC Week Coordination - Top End NAIDOC... 3 Darwin NAIDOC Committee Members... 3 Palmerston NAIDOC Committee Members... 3 Patron... 4 Finance... 5 Auspice Body... 5 Funding... 5 Sponsorship... 5 In-kind Support... 6 Insurance... 6 Communication facebook page... 6 Website... 7 Events... 7 Program National NAIDOC theme: Serving Country: Centenary and beyond.

5 Event Coordinators... 7 Volunteers... 7 STAGE 2: DELIVERING THE PROGRAM OF EVENTS... 8 Planning Process... 8 Committee Events... 8 External Events... 8 STAGE 3: WRAP UP AND EVALUATION... 9 Acknowledgements... 9 Financial Acquittals... 9 Reporting... 9 APPENDIX A: DARWIN NAIDOC PROGRAM APPENDIX B: PALMERSTON NAIDOC PROGRAM APPENDIX C: SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS APPENDIX C: BALL & AWARDS EVENING National NAIDOC theme: Serving Country: Centenary and beyond.

6 BACKGROUND WHAT DOES NAIDOC STAND FOR? NAIDOC originally stood for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. This committee was once responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC Week and its acronym has since become the name of the week itself. WHEN WAS NAIDOC WEEK? NAIDOC Week is usually held from the first to second Sunday in July each year. In 2014 the national NAIDOC Week celebrations were held from 6 to July. WHAT IS NAIDOC WEEK? NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities but by Australians from all walks of life. The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF NAIDOC WEEK? Before the 1920s, Aboriginal rights groups boycotted Australia Day (26 January) in protest against the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians. By the 1920s, they were increasingly aware that the broader Australian public were largely ignorant of the boycotts. If the movement were to make progress, it would need to be active. Several organisations emerged to fill this role, particularly the Australian Aborigines Progressive Association (AAPA) in 1924 and the Australian Aborigines League (AAL) in Their efforts were largely overlooked, and due to police harassment, the AAPA abandoned their work in In 1935, William Cooper, founder of the AAL, drafted a petition to send to King George V, asking for special Aboriginal electorates in Federal Parliament. The Australian Government believed that the petition fell outside its constitutional responsibilities On Australia Day, 1938, protestors marched through the streets of Sydney, followed by a congress attended by over a thousand people. One of the first major civil rights gatherings in the world, it was known as the Day of Mourning. Following the congress, a deputation led by William Cooper presented Prime Minister Joseph Lyons with a proposed national policy for Aboriginal people. This was again rejected because the Government did not hold constitutional powers in relation to Aboriginal people. After the Day of Mourning, there was a growing feeling that it should be a regular event. In 1939 William Cooper wrote to the National Missionary Council of Australia to seek their assistance in supporting and promoting an annual event. Serving Country: Centenary and beyond. Page 1 of 1.

7 From 1940 until 1955, the Day of Mourning was held annually on the Sunday before Australia Day and was known as Aborigines Day. In 1955 Aborigines Day was shifted to the first Sunday in July after it was decided the day should become not simply a protest day but also a celebration of Aboriginal culture Major Aboriginal organisations, state and federal governments, and a number of church groups all supported the formation of, the National Aborigines Day Observance Committee (NADOC). At the same time, the second Sunday in July became a day of remembrance for Aboriginal people and their heritage. In 1972, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs was formed, as a major outcome of the 1967 referendum. In 1974, the NADOC committee was composed entirely of Aboriginal members for the first time. The following year, it was decided that the event should cover a week, from the first to second Sunday in July. In 1984, NADOC asked that National Aborigines Day be made a national public holiday, to help celebrate and recognise the rich cultural history that makes Australia unique. While this has not happened, other groups have echoed the call Present With a growing awareness of the distinct cultural histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, NADOC was expanded to recognise Torres Strait Islander people and culture. The committee then became known as the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC). This new name has become the title for the whole week, not just the day. Each year, a theme is chosen to reflect the important issues and events for NAIDOC Week. During the mid-1990s, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) took over the management of NAIDOC until ATSIC was disbanded in There were interim arrangements in Since then a National NAIDOC Committee, until recently chaired by former Senator Aden Ridgeway, has made key decisions on national celebrations each year. The National NAIDOC Committee has representatives from most Australian states and territories. Since 2008, Anne Martin and Ben Mitchell have been serving as co-chairs of the National NAIDOC Committee. Serving Country: Centenary and beyond. Page 2 of 2.

8 STAGE 1: PLANNING AND COORDINATION NAIDOC WEEK COORDINATION - TOP END NAIDOC Top End NAIDOC was established through the amalgamation of the Darwin and Palmerston NAIDOC Committees in The amalgamation arose through a need for a coordinated effort of both organising committees to deliver a comprehensive program of events in Darwin, as the host city for national NAIDOC Week celebrations. The Darwin and Palmerston NAIDOC Committees organise their own affairs, but share information to deliver a comprehensive program of events. Darwin NAIDOC Committee Members The Darwin NAIDOC Committee was established through a public meeting in February Community members volunteered to coordinate the program of events for the Darwin community. The 2014 Darwin NAIDOC Committee members are: Co-Chairs Kerry Wetherall and Ngaree Ah Kit Co-Secretary's Nicole Brown and Timena Petterson Treasurer Kerry Wetherall and Ngaree Ah Kit (in the absence of a Treasurer) Ordinary Members Anthony Ah Kit Cathryn Tilmouth Candice Hayes Cindell Cray Desmond Campbell Jennifer Petterson Jodie Brown Joyce Baird Leeanne Millen Melissa Ah Kit Patsy Raymond Palmerston NAIDOC Committee Members The Palmerston NAIDOC Committee was established through a public meeting in February Community members volunteered to coordinate the program of events for the Palmerston community. The 2014 Palmerston NAIDOC Committee members are: Chair David D'Antoine Treasurer Judy Kennedy Secretary Anna Pusceddu Public Relations Delsey Tamiano Serving Country: Centenary and beyond. Page 3 of 3.

9 PATRON The Top End NAIDOC Committee would like to acknowledge Mr Desmond Mayo as our Patron for the 2014 NAIDOC Week celebrations. Mr Mayo was invited to be the Patron for 2014, due to his contribution as a servicemen and this year's theme being "Serving Country: Centenary and beyond". Mr Mayo s biography is titled Serving my country is provided below. Born in 1945, Desmond Mayo was called upon to enlist in National Service in 1965 as a young 20 year old lad. He went to training at Puckapunyal, Victoria and was accepted into the Army. In December 1996 Mr Mayo went to Adelaide and joined the 3 RAR unit and also transferred to 4 RAR in Malaysia. In 1968 he returned to Darwin to be with his family. Highlights 1966 Guard of Honour for the Queen Mother RAR unit in Malaysia where he spent 14 months Re-enlisted for a further 2 years as a digger Rifleman Infantry LCPL Acted as Corporal on several occasions being in charge of the section 1979 Discharged from the Army Serving Country: Centenary and beyond. Page 4 of 4.

10 FINANCE Although Top End NAIDOC is not an incorporated entity all members agree to operate in a transparent and responsible manner whilst adhering to relevant legislation and funding guidelines. Auspice Body The auspice body for 2014 was Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT (AMSANT). AMSANT s role as the auspice body was to take full legal responsibility for all NAIDOC funds, to work with committee members to pay all expenses relating to NAIDOC week activities, and to complete all funding acquittals on behalf of Top End NAIDOC. An auspice fee was paid direct to AMSANT from the Australian Government for assisting Top End NAIDOC in coordinating NAIDOC Week in the Darwin and Palmerston communities. Funding The Australian Government provides the large majority of funds to hold NAIDOC Week celebrations around the country. The funding is provided through the Indigenous Capability and Development (ICAD) program, which is administered by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet through the Indigenous Coordination Centre s. In 2014, the Darwin NAIDOC Committee were funded a total of $50, to help coordinate NAIDOC Week in the Darwin community. The Northern Territory Government has provided one-off funding of $10, to the Darwin NAIDOC Committee for a number of years, but there is no guarantee that this will continue. The organising committee writes to the Chief Minister each year to seek funding for NAIDOC Week and the funding is administered by the Department of the Chief Minister. Both funding agreements are signed-off by the auspice body and contain their own funding guidelines including dates and processes for acquitting funds. The auspice body worked with the NAIDOC Chair s to finalise both acquittals. Sponsorship Sponsorship of NAIDOC Week events is a vital component to ensuring greater support and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and achievements. It also allows the organising committee to expand the program of events to cater for as many community members as possible. Top End NAIDOC would like to acknowledge our sponsors of the 2014 program of events: Aboriginal Employment Strategy AMSANT Australian Apprenticeships NT Australian Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Education Buslink Vivo Danila Dilba Health Service Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet ESS Larrakia I.E. Project INPEX Ken Vowles MLA Kentz Engineers and Constructors Monadelphous Northern Land Council Northern Territory Government Rusca Bros Mining Pty Ltd Thiess Pty Ltd Serving Country: Centenary and beyond. Page 5 of 5.

11 In-kind Support In-kind support is sought and offered by a wide array of NAIDOC supporters. A highlight of the in-kind support provided in 2014 including the donation of the NAIDOC Breakfast by ESS Larrakia, who took full responsibility for the planning and delivery of the annual breakfast which was held prior to the NAIDOC March in Bennett Park. The breakfast catered for more than 350 people. INSURANCE The organising committee must ensure that all relevant insurance cover is purchased to cover all aspects of the official events that the committee organizers. The usual insurance cover purchased is Public Liability Insurance. However, other additional insurances can be purchased to cover the work undertaken by committee members (who are volunteers). The organising committee purchases insurance cover out of funds belonging to Top End NAIDOC, which is classified as activity-generated income that arises from profits made from the sale of NAIDOC Ball & Awards Evening tickets. COMMUNICATION The Darwin and Palmerston NAIDOC Committee s utilize a variety of methods to communicate NAIDOC Week information to community members. As funds are limited we continually look for cost-effective ways in which we can communicate messages to the public. is the main method of communicating messages to the public and the address topendnaidoc@hotmail.com has been used since Each year committee members create and use a distribution list in order to share information with stakeholders. The distribution list includes; committee members, sponsors, volunteers, local businesses and Aboriginal organizations, community groups, and media outlets. facebook page A facebook page titled TopEnd NAIDOC is used to promote NAIDOC Week activities in the Darwin and Palmerston communities. Committee members upload photos and the official NAIDOC programs to the facebook page and are encouraged to share the posts amongst their personal networks on facebook. Serving Country: Centenary and beyond. Page 6 of 6.

12 Website The website titled Top End NAIDOC was created by the 2014 Darwin NAIDOC Committee to as an additional medium to promote NAIDOC Week in the Darwin and Palmerston communities. The website provided a central point of contact for all NAIDOC-related enquiries with pages created for; programs, sponsors, patron, committee members, and events. EVENTS Each year the organising committee is tasked with coordinated the program of events for the community. Decisions are made for the best interest of the community to ensure that ample opportunities are available for all communities to celebrate and enjoy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and achievements. Program The organising committee creates the official program of events and circulates it as widely as possible throughout the community. Ms Delia Lawrie MLA, Member for Karama has kindly donated the printing of the Darwin NAIDOC Program for a number of years with hard copies handed out to community members at NAIDOC Week events. Event Coordinators The organising committee will allocate committee members to oversee or coordinate the events that the committee has chosen to take responsibility for. Although the committee does not organise all NAIDOC events it does however offer to provide support wherever possible including promoting other events to community members. Volunteers Volunteers are vital in the running of NAIDOC Week events to assist event coordinators with a variety of tasks that may arise before, during, or after the event. A call for volunteers is placed prior to NAIDOC Week and event coordinators are also encouraged to organise volunteers to assist them with their event. Serving Country: Centenary and beyond. Page 7 of 7.

13 STAGE 2: DELIVERING THE PROGRAM OF EVENTS PLANNING PROCESS The organising committee decides on the process they would like to follow to plan and deliver the NAIDOC Week program of events. Although there are a number of tasks that need to be completed as each year, decisions must be made on the approach to undertake each of these tasks. In 2014, the major tasks relating to the coordination of NAIDOC Week in Darwin were allocated to the Co-Chairs. The major tasks included: Finance Securing an auspice body, establishing financial procedures, applying for funding, securing sponsorship, paying tax invoices, and acquitting funds. Program Designing the program, finalizing event details, printing and disseminating the program. Media Participating in interviews and encouraging media attendance at events. Insurance Purchasing Public Liability Insurance to cover the planning and delivery of NAIDOC Week events. Storage of Assets Arranging secure storage of NAIDOC Week assets. COMMITTEE EVENTS The organising committee decided to coordinate a total of 11 events for NAIDOC Week in the Darwin community being: Ball & Awards Evening Breakfast Cinema Screening Coaching Clinics Family Day Karaoke NightMovie Night March Seniors Dinner Dance Speeches Ten Pin Bowling Youth Sport & Cultural Event EXTERNAL EVENTS ACIKE Guest Panel Church Service Commemorative Service DAIWS & Yilli Rreung Youth Fun Day Flag Raising Golf Day Juninga Aged Care Luncheon Mulligas & Cudjeries Karaoke Night SafeTALK Workshop Serving Country: Centenary and beyond. Page 8 of 8.

14 STAGE 3: WRAP UP AND EVALUATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS All sponsors and major contributors to the 2014 NAIDOC Week celebrations in the Darwin community will be acknowledged by the committee and thanks publicly. Acknowledgement includes a copy of this event report, detailing the extent to which financial and in-kind contributions have played a part in the delivery of another successful NAIDOC Week, as well as public acknowledgement on the facebook page and Top End NAIDOC website. FINANCIAL ACQUITTALS The auspice body, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the Northern Territory (AMSANT) have acquitted all funds received by the Top End NAIDOC Committee for The acquittal report and report of the events that were funded through each agreement were provided to the Northern Territory Government (Department of the Chief Minister) and the Australian Government (Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet). Left: the first page of the Australian Government Activity Report. Right: the first page of the Northern Territory Government Activity Report. REPORTING The organising committee estimates that more than 2,500 people attended NAIDOC Week events in The organising committee has created this comprehensive event report as a way of informing the funding bodies, sponsors, supporters, stakeholders, and community members of the work involved with the planning and delivery of the NAIDOC Week program of events in the Darwin community. This report will be made available to the public in March An unofficial Annual General Meeting was convened by the 2014 organising committee as a way of reporting back to community members on the success of the 2014 NAIDOC Week program of events, the work undertaken by the organising committee, and to seek expressions of interest to join the organising committee for Serving Country: Centenary and beyond. Page 9 of 9.

15 APPENDIX A: DARWIN NAIDOC PROGRAM Serving Country: Centenary and beyond. Page 10 of 1 0

16 APPENDIX B: PALMERSTON NAIDOC PROGRAM Serving Country: Centenary and beyond. Page 11 of 1 1

17 APPENDIX C: SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS Serving Country: Centenary and beyond. Page 12 of 1 2

18 APPENDIX C: BALL & AWARDS EVENING Male Elder: Desmond Mayo Female Elder: Lorna Fejo Youth joint winners: Daniel Hamilton and Jordan Riddle Artists joint winners: Ben Graetz and Djuki Mala (Chooky Dancers) Sports Person joint winners: Brooke Peris and Danielle Ponter Scholar: Nathan Canuto Apprentice: Luke Butler Lifetime Achievement: Gary Lang Person: Joy White Serving Country: Centenary and beyond. Page of 1 3