The National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) was in established 1974 to encourage all Australians to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year’s NAIDOC Week theme is ‘Service Country: Centenary and Beyond’, where we honour all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who have fought in defence of our country.
From our warriors in the Frontier Wars to those who fought with honour and pride in Australia’s military conflicts and engagements across the globe, we proudly highlight and recognise the role they have played in shaping our identity and will pause to reflect on their sacrifice.
We celebrate and honour their priceless contribution to our nation.
As a club, we have supported the first ever Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial at the Torrens parade ground and had over 400 of our Aboriginal Power Cup students pay their respects to all those who served in conflict when it was unveiled.
Simple gestures such as these that help to deepen the respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians have for our indigenous cultures and the contribution of this great country’s first peoples to the nation.
We’ve made a lot of progress towards recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and there is a broader push for this to continue through the recognition of all indigenous Australians in our nation’s constitution, another initiative supported by the club.
Ever since Harold Thomas created our iconic black, gold and red Aboriginal Flag at the South Australian Museum in 1970 before it was flown in Victoria Square for the first time on 12 July 1971.
It’s the reason why NAIDOC week coincides with that date each week and why the club has chosen to use NAIDOC week to launch its official Reconciliation Action Plan.
Reconciliation is all about building better relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider Australian community for the benefit of all Australians.
Through the Reconciliation Action Plan program, organisations like ours develop business plans that demonstrate how they, within their scope of influence, will contribute to furthering reconciliation in Australia.
Reconciliation Action Plans outline practical actions the organisation will take to build strong relationships and enhanced respect between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians.
Our RAP, launched at tonight’s big game against the Bombers, also sets out Port Adelaide’s commitment to driving and promoting greater equality, and sustainable opportunities within the community for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
We do that by working closely with communities across South Australia and the Northern Territory to promote healthy lifestyle and education programs for children.
Put simply, the Reconciliation Action Plan program is about working with organisations across Australia to turn their good intentions into real actions, and through initiatives like the Aboriginal Power Cup, WillPOWER and the new AFL Aboriginal Academy, I believe Port Adelaide can be part of a very special process of empowering the next generation of Aboriginal youth and giving them the chance to enjoy and take advantage of the same opportunities that exist for kids across Australia, particularly in urban areas.
As a member of the Wirrangu group from around Koonibba, I’m proud to have been involved in working with David Koch and Keith Thomas to drive Port Adelaide’s Reconciliation Action Plan.
Gavin Wanganeen (Wirrangu country, near Koonibba), Wade Thompson (Arabunna, Flinders Ranges), Byron Pickett (Budimia and Balandong, in WA) and Nathan Krakouer (Minang, in WA) are all former players who work in our Aboriginal programs to promote reconciliation in our community, and they are all just as proud of what tonight’s launch represents.
We are trying to create positive change for our people and communities and believe we are heading in the right direction with our programs and commitment.
Paul Vandenbergh is a former NBL Basketballer with the Canberra Cannons and the Power Community Ltd’s Aboriginal Programs Manager.
