Break Thru NAIDOC Week Celebrations - Preston

On the 9th of July 2010 from 2pm onwards, the Preston Break Thru office celebrated NAIDOC Week by hosting an afternoon tea complete with Aboriginal elders, Aboriginal dancers, didgeridoo performance and Awards Ceremony.

The Preston staff, including Milena Miller, Maruska Batakovic, Cara Alessi, Rianna Artis, Tea Makoni, Erin McClean, Ben Kurec, Warner Blake & Judith Pauwell welcomed Aboriginal elders Reg Blow & Margaret Gardener. Reg is a Community Elder who provided acknowledgement and played didgeridoo at the event, while Margaret, also a Community Elder, provided a Welcome to country . The staff & elders were also joined by the Detour Dance Company who provided an aboriginal contemporary dance piece.

The Detour Dance Company started in 2008, priding itself as producing the freshest Hip Hop, Lyrical and Cultural dance styles, today we will be performing a Indigenous/Contemporary dance piece inspired from Bangarra, choreographed by Lee-Anne Di Stefano & and in consultation with Koori dancers.

The NAIDOC celebrations at Prestnon provided an invaluable opportunity to meet local aboriginal Elders, network with employers, community and service providers. The Break Thru team were extremely proud when their participants were inducted into the Wall of Fame, which also gave them a sense of achievement. The event was a brilliant success and everyone in attendance was able to network and gain a greater understanding of what NAIDOC week is and why it is so important to the Aboriginal community.

The Preston NAIDOC Week celebrations program was as follows;

2pm Reg Blow & Margaret Gardner – Community Elders
Open up the celebrations & service by welcoming everyone to the event and acknowledge special guests/speakers, organizers of the event and staff members of Break Thru, partners and friends and the good work that is being performed by Break Thru. Followed by an acknowledgement of the traditional people of the land, the Wurundjeri of the Kulin nation, elders past and present.

2.20pm Reg Blow
Didgeridoo performance to lay down a spiritual platform to bless the day and this event.

2.30pm Reg Blow
Talk on the meaning and background of NAIDOC Week and what will be happening in the Aboriginal community during the week.

2.40pm Reg Blow
Talk about the benefits of the essential service being provided to the Aboriginal community by Break Thru.

3pm Reg Blow & Maruska Batakovic
Wall of Fame Award Ceremony / Presentations to our Indigenous participants.

3.30pm Detour Dance Company

3.50pm Afternoon Tea