Our Connection Program is designed to work with the Aboriginal community of Gloucester, Stroud, Barrington and surrounding areas to link people with services, provide support and facilitate referrals.
BWNG's Connection Program is designed to work with the community to link people with services, provide support and facilitate referrals.
Our funding body, the NSW Government Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), has changed funding focus under the Targeted Early Intervention (TEI) reform to emphasise groups including Aboriginal children, families and communities, 0-5 year olds, children and young people at risk of disengaging and young parents experiencing hardships.
We are focused on Community Strengthening – activities that build cohesion, inclusion and wellbeing across all communities, and empower the Aboriginal community.
To that end, we have worked to establish a network of partnerships throughout the local community, including with local pre-schools and playgroups.
Through the Connections Program BWNG partners with numerous community organisations such as Gloucester Worimi First Peoples Aboriginal Corporation (GWFPAC) to deliver diverse and interactive projects within the community.
Working with Worimi/Biripi knowledge holder Benn Saunders and funded through the Federal Indigenous Languages and Arts Program (ILA), the Gathang Revitalisation project has given members of our local Aboriginal community the opportunity to learn Gathang, the Aboriginal language in our area - Worimi and Biripi country.
Additionally, the workshops have strengthened interconnection within the local Aboriginal community, enhanced collaboration with other indigenous communities (Mainly Taree), opened pathways for the sharing of knowledge, and built the capacity of searching family tree information.
Around 25 participants have been involved in the workshops, including a kid's workshop for the emerging generation of the Worimi and Biripi nations.
Due to the rarity of Gathang speakers, the language workshops are currently open to the Aboriginal community only, but the project is on track for five participants to take the next step in their language journey by becoming Accredited Language Holders. Having extra Gathang speakers to share their knowledge will hopefully allow us to open the incredibly popular workshops to the wider community.
Inspired by NAIDOC Week 2020 BWNG's Connections Program Officer, Amber Galvin enlisted the help of Biripi women Aunty Pam Saunders and Joedie Lawler, to facilitate Indigenous weaving workshops.
The first workshops to commence were Women's Weaving Workshops, which brought together Indigenous and non-Indigenous women to weave items such as dilly bags and baskets before undertaking one large wall hanging together.
The wall hanging - a collaborative piece representing our region through blue netting for the sky, multicoloured woven circles for the families in the community and a long piece of wood representing the mountains - was displayed at Gloucester Art Gallery as part of a cultural exhibition for NAIDOC week 2022.
The project became especially poignant with the passing of Aunty Pam and her son Jay, in August of 2021.
A photograph of the wall hanging taken by Amber Galvin was recognised with the following awards:
2nd Place - 2022 Friends of the Rural Health Alliance Photography Competition
1st Place - 2022 Pix from the Stix - Culture
As the revitalisation of Gathang culture filters through the community, weaving workshops are now imparting the ancient skill to the younger generation at Gloucester High School. The weekly workshops are run by Amber for Indigenous students and their friends to learn to weave, and hopefully light a spark that will inspire them to continue their cultural education.
This Year's NAIDOC theme 'Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud' - honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture.
We have a raft of activities planned for the whole community to get involved in, including:
Follow GWFPAC on social media to stay up to date with this year's local NAIDOC schedule.
We're calling all Gloucester businesses and organisations to join the 'Loud & Proud' NAIDOC Week Door Display Competition.
This Year's NAIDOC theme is 'Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud!' - a call for everyone in the community to recognise and celebrate the resilience of Australia's First Nations culture.
This is a great way to show your support, win a great prize for your business or organisation and contribute to an eye-catching main street display. Plus entry is FREE!
The winner will receive a voucher for their team to enjoy at Batter & Dough - Gloucester's own sourdough bakery and patisserie.
How to get involved
Judging
The competition will be judged during NAIDOC week on creative merit and design by members of Gloucester's NAIDOC committee.
Share it
A vibrant display is great for social media. Don't forget to share photos of your display to your social media accounts and tag #GloucesterWorimi and #GloucesterNAIDOC.
In the lead-up to NAIDOC Week 2023, we asked budding local Indigenous artists aged between 13 and 20 years-of-age to design an Indigenous-themed shirt for the chance to win a cash prize.
The winning design by Charlie Clarke represents ‘our landscape, wildlife, family and community coming together.’ Charlie's design will be featured on a polo shirt that will form part of BWNG's staff uniform.
Runners-up Indiana Dodds, Hailee Labry and Sarah Galvin also submitted outstanding designs and were awarded a gift card each.
We thank all the young people who participated in this competition and commend them on their artistic vision.
Members of the Aboriginal community Gathang Language Group collaborated on a vibrant outdoor mural aptly named 'Gathang Ngarraliyn' (which translates to 'Learning Gathang' in English) to use as a visual aid in teaching Gathang to others.
Measuring 1.8 x 4.8 metres, the striking mural has been installed on a wall close to BWNG's memorial garden.
Artists and contributors: Jarrad, Amber, Jaxson and Xander Galvin, Kayla Jory, Emily and Nullah Clarke, Corey and Jade Everett, Donna Kemp, Paula Standen, Tyler Standen and Jackie Buddle.
The sun was shining, Gloucester District Park was looking amazing and the event was a huge success according to feedback from both children and parents. The event saw at least 200 people attending the gardens!
The kids had a fun-filled day with face painting, hair weaves, clay modelling, arts and crafts, sports activities, boomerang throwing and a treasure hunt. With fantastic involvement from the kids, we planted over 30 new natives and bush tucker plants around the gardens. The kids loved learning about what the plants are and their uses.
We were also lucky to have a demonstration by local paramedic Jodie House on how to use a snake bite kit, plus free snake bite kits were available for attendees.
The day was topped off with a free sausage sizzle, fruit, lemon myrtle and strawberry gum tea, drinks and cake.
We would also like to thank all the volunteers and providers and members of the Aboriginal community for their assistance on the day.
The day was made possible via funding through the NSW Government’s Regional Youth Spring Holiday Break Program
The Gathang Language Group and members of the Aboriginal community gathered at Minimbah Gardens Gloucester to learn a traditional method of preparing and cooking fish. The fish was wrapped in parcels of paper bark, with lemon myrtle for flavour before being cooked in the coals of an open fire.
A fantastic time was had by all while learning about Worimi and Biripi culture and Gathang language.
Not to mention the fish was delicious!
During NAIDOC Week 2023 we explored the theme for the year 'Get Up, Stand Up, Show Up!' by speaking with members of Gloucester's Indigenous community about what NAIDOC means to them, personally. The video below was created by local Worimi woman, Ayrleah Walker.
We would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land from the Worimi and Biripi Country
and pay our respects to Elders past, present & future.
(Artwork: 'Home' by a team of local Indigenous Artists)
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