Today, August 4, we celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day. Children’s Day is a time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities, and ALL Australians celebrate the strengths and culture of our children. The first National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day was established on 4 August 1988. It was created because at the time, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and elders felt a day was needed to celebrate our children, to give them confidence and make them feel special and feel included. August 4 was chosen as it was the date historically used to communally celebrate the birthdays of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were taken from their families at a young age, without knowing their birthday.

This year I have taken more notice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day because my children, now in Year 3 and in Preschool, are becoming more vocal about their heritage. They talk about their totems to people who ask and are able to explain that even though they don’t look like your stereotypical Aboriginal person, they most definitely are and they come from Gundungurra and Thurawal land.

We always hear about how our children are the future and in this case it absolutely is. Through no ones fault, I spent my childhood ‘ticking a box’ but not really understanding what it meant to be Aboriginal or how my culture can teach people, is rich and vibrant and something to be proud of. Now, through continuing to learn and connecting with my own culture, I want to continue to encourage my children and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to be confident, to stand up and be proud of who they are, even if they don’t quite know what that means. To learn from our elders, to involve ourselves in our culture, to share that with our friends and family. To say ‘This is who I am and this is where I come from”, to flourish as First Nations People with confidence and lead us into the future.  

For more information on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s day or get involved visit: https://www.aboriginalchildrensday.com.au/

MINI VINNIES NIGHT VAN VISIT

Yesterday, Matthew from the Vinnies Night Van came to collect our warm winter

woolies that our community had donated. The Mini Vinnies team was very excited to load up the van as well as have a look at what Matthew and the team have on board to help those people in our community who live on the streets or need some extra support.

We had collected so many warm clothes, shoes and blankets that we filled the van and had to squish all the bags in before sliding the door closed! Matthew was very appreciative of our donations and wanted me to pass on his thanks!

Have a great week!

Sharee Thomas

REC