TAMWORTH saw its largest ever NAIDOC march, as the city’s Indigenous community poured out in a show of unity, after the traditional route of the parade was almost reduced to just one block.
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More than 500 people stepped off from Viaduct Park, armed with flags, songs and smiles.
Cathy Trindall said it was “by far the biggest march” she’d ever seen in Tamworth.
“It really is a combination of a lot of things,” she said.
“The theme, ‘Because of Her, We Can’, means so many things to so many different people.”
Ms Trindall said you could see how much the theme meant to the community, with many wiping away tears during a moment of silence to remember the special women in their lives who had passed away.
“Everyone has a close mum, aunty, nan – we all have someone in our community that we look to, that has nurtured us,” she said.
“Not only that, it’s about the connection to Mother Earth. She put on some great weather for us.”
Ms Trindall said the large crowd was also partly due to the march’s traditional route being threatened.
This year’s march was pegged to start at the Fitzroy plaza, however the city’s delegates backflipped on the decision following community backlash.
“There is strength in unity,” Ms Trindall said.
“There are lot of people here for their first march and they’ve come out to support us. To show the community that we’re here, we’re a presence and we’re not going to go anywhere.”
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Jamieson Murphy
Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
