South Burnett Regional Council celebrates NAIDOC Week

This year’s theme Heal Country, invites the nation to embrace First Nations’ cultural knowledge and understanding of Country as part of Australia's national heritage and equally respect the culture and values of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders as they do the cultures and values of all Australians.

During the month of July, residents are invited to call in to the Kingaroy Library foyer which showcases a collection of indigenous artwork owned by local resident Andrew Townes which features a number of vibrant paintings, boomerangs and digeridoos.

As part of NAIDOC Week celebrations the South Burnett’s First Nations people will join the Star of Taroom’s epic walk back to Country, which leaves Brisbane and will travel through Kingaroy. South Burnett residents are invited to join the NAIDOC Week festivities celebrating the arrival of the Star of Taroom at the Town Hall Forecourt on Glendon Street on Tuesday 13 July from 10am. The event will feature First Nations dancers, a free sausage sizzle and more.

The Star of Taroom was uncovered in the early 1970s by a young veterinarian, Jim, on a property between Wandoan and Taroom. While working on the property, a large sandstone rock with a beautiful star carved deep into its face caught his eye. The stone was loaded into a ute and taken to Brisbane, where it took pride of place in Jim’s backyard. The stone is now being returned to Taroom and will arrive on the 24th of July for the official opening ceremony of the Wardingarri Keeping Place at the Taroom Historical Museum. For further information on the Start of Taroom and this epic journey, see the Star of Taroom website. 

For further information regarding NAIDOC Week contact Council’s Communities team on 1300 789 279, 4189 9100 or email Council.