25 August 2022

Life Without Barriers joins Logan District's NAIDOC celebration event at Kingston's Butter Factory parklands, coming together with the local community to celebrate the history, cultures, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Image: Life Without Barriers stall at Logan NAIDOC.

Life Without Barriers’ team members supported numerous NAIDOC Week celebrations across the country from 3-10 July this year; however, some events were postponed due to extreme wet weather throughout South East Queensland.

One of those events, the Logan District NAIDOC 2022 event, was rescheduled and celebrated on Wednesday 17 August, on the Lands of the Yugambeh and Yuggera peoples.

Organised by the Logan District Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Elders and local community organisations, the event included a Welcome to Country, music, games, traditional dances, rides for the kids, a barbecue, a smoking ceremony, and an official opening by Logan Mayor, Darren Power.

Smoking Ceremony at Logan NAIDOC event

Guest speakers included Police Chief Superintendent for the Logan District, Mel Adams, and Logan City Council Representative Teresa Lane. There were also performances by traditional dancers, Mabel Park Wajin Dance Group and Torres Strait Islander Dancers, Tana Fire, who are descendants from Senpol Village, Moa Island.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dancers performing at Logan NAIDOC event.

With beautiful blue skies and more than 60 stallholders at the Kingston Butter Factory parklands, it was a great day to celebrate the history, cultures, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Image: Stalls were setup at the previous Logan NAIDOC event with lots of people gathered around.

An Elders Tent was set up for the local community, especially children, to sit and have a yarn with one of the local Elders. Aunty Shirley O’Shea, a proud Gubbi Gubbi / Butchulla woman from K'gari (Fraser Island), who now lives on the Lands of the Yungambeh peoples (Woodridge), shared her thoughts on NAIDOC Week.

“I am so proud of my people and my community - talking to all the relations down here, and the young ones are doing a great job looking after us,” Aunty Shirley said.

“Days like this are important to get our community and our people together; but also, for all cultures to get along, come to these events, come together as one, not just as individuals.”

Watch the full interview with Aunty Shirley here.

Life Without Barriers staff joined the event, running a stall and speaking to local community members about the services available at Life Without Barriers. There was also a rock painting activity on the go, which was very popular with children, teens and adults! 

Left to right Life Without Barriers Child Youth and Family team members from Brisbane’s Milton office: Silvia Jones-Terare, Cultural Support Planner; Renee Sawyers, Operations Manager; Leoni Lippitt, State Lead Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Initiatives; and Marnie Davis, Cultural Support Planner (Robina office).

Life Without Barriers is proud to have participated in NAIDOC Week events across the country. We feel privileged to have met local Elders and engaged with local communities.

Life Without Barriers will continue to embrace all opportunities to celebrate, learn and most importantly, listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities now and always.

Our commitment to reconciliation

We believe that reconciliation must live in the hearts and minds of all Australians. Learn more about how we’re raising awareness.

Related Stories