NAIDOC 2022 - Get up, show up, stand up!

Published on 22 September 2022

This year's NAIDOC week 2022 theme is Get Up! Show Up! Stand Up! celebrating Australia's Indigenous cultural history of fighting for systematic change.

NAIDOC week typically falls in July however, because of the weather, this year we are instead celebrating our main event in September when it is warmer.

On Saturday, 24 September 2022, Parkes is holding a NAIDOC event at Bushman's Hill Indigenous Precinct from 10.30am - 2.30pm. There will be a smoking ceremony, a performance by the Dyagang “boys”, Wiradjuri Guwals, music by the Town Band, stall holders, a free BBQ plus lots more.

Mayor of Parkes Shire, Cr Ken Keith OAM will be in attendance to help present the 2022 NAIDOC Week Awards to our local recipients. "It is important to take this time to recognise the valuable history, culture and achievements of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

"The Parkes Shire has a rich Indigenous culture, with the Wiradjuri people having occupied this land for over 40,000 years. We celebrate Wiradjuri culture in many ways throughout our community. There are many facilities and public artworks that the community can explore, enjoy and learn about our Wiradjuri Culture," added Cr Keith.

The Public Art Trail features artwork by renowned local Wiradjuri Artist, Scott 'Sauce' Towney at locations in both Parkes and Peak Hill. Sauce's artworks also feature as part of the Rotary Peace Precinct at the base of Memorial Hill, a place for contemplation and reflection about world peace.

The Garradyang Cultural Garden, located at Bushman's Hill, was designed by local landscape designer, Elizabeth Briton. The garden showcases plants commonly used by the Wiradjuri people in their day-to-day life for food, medicine, tool making and other purposes.

The Wiradjuri Ngurambang Exhibition, on display at the Parkes Library and Cultural Centre, is open for community members and visitors to the Parkes region to enjoy and learn more about our local Wiradjuri people and their culture; past, present and future.

For more information on this weekend's festivities, contact Neighbourhood Central on 02 6862 3757.