Heal Country, NAIDOC Week 2021 and Beyond

A celebration is to “express admiration and approval for something or someone“. 1 

NAIDOC Week 2 celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This week brings an excellent opportunity to come together and celebrate the rich history, diverse cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the oldest continuing cultures on the planet. It is an important celebration for us at Springmount Services and for all Australians.

NAIDOC Week 2021 is from Sunday 4 July to Sunday 11 July.  The theme Heal Country! 3 calls for us all to continue to seek greater protections for this unique Country’s lands, waters, sacred sites, and cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration, and destruction.

We endorse calls for stronger measures to recognise, protect, and maintain all aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage. Commitment to our Springmount Services Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 4 provides a basis for this ongoing acknowledgment and support.

Springmount RAP Acknowledgement

All people can do this, just as we do in our Springmount Services workplaces by:

  • Sustaining the environment
  • Understanding culture
  • Recognising Aboriginal knowledge
  • Acknowledging history

The beautiful poster entitled ‘Care for Country’ was designed by Gubbi Gubbi artist Maggie-Jean Douglas 5 for 2021 NAIDOC Week. This bright and vibrant artwork explores how Country has cared for and healed First Nations people spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially, and culturally.

The artwork includes communities, people, animals and bush medicines spread over different landscapes of red dirt, green grass, bush land and coastal areas. It tells the story of the many ways Country can and has healed First Nations people throughout their lives and journeys.

2002-First-Nations-Boomerang

This ‘Care for Country” artwork inspires us.

It brings to mind the exquisite painting we commissioned from Chern’ee Sutton 6 to visualise our journey 7 in developing the Springmount Services Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins 8 can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920′s, which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Education and understanding from a critical part of our Action Plan for Reconciliation as we continue our promise of respect and relationships.

This NAIDOC Week we can continue our education close to our Springmount Services National Head Office at Karawatha Forest Park. 9

Help Heal Country by connecting with nature in one of Brisbane’s major natural areas. Karawatha Forest Park stretches over approximately 900 hectares. It’s Discovery Centre 10 informs visitors about the significance of the natural area and includes Queensland’s first nature play space.

Three free family-friendly events are being held there on Saturday 10 July 2021, connected with NAIDOC week celebrations:

No matter whether you celebrate at home or in community, there are lots of ways you can honour the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples during the NAIDOC Week in 2021. Get involved here! 14

NAIDOC Week is just one week each year, yet we can all continue to celebrate and support in authentic and genuine ways every day!

  • Visit Blak Business 15 online to continue discovering information, knowledge and resources to facilitate broader learning and discussion about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander topics.
  • Purchase items from local and online businesses owned and operated by First Nations people. A great place to start is Supply Nation 16 providing Australia’s leading database of verified Indigenous businesses.

Founded in 2002, Springmount Services partners with some of Australia’s largest property owners, occupiers, and investors to deliver personalised integrated services, cleaning, security, maintenance, ancillary services, hygiene, waste and recycling services to their properties and tenants.

Springmount Services is committed to our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).4 We will continue to learn, understand, value, and recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, knowledge, and rights.

Heal Country, heal our nation.

#NAIDOCWeek

#NAIDOC2021

#HealCountry


References:

1 Definition of “celebrating” https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/celebrating

2 Official NAIDOC Week website: https://www.naidoc.org.au/

3 2021 NAIDOC Week Theme  https://www.naidoc.org.au/news/2021-naidoc-week-theme-announced-heal-country

4 View our Springmount Services Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) here

5 Maggie-Jean Douglas, artist https://www.naidoc.org.au/news/maggie-jean-douglas-wins-2021-national-naidoc-poster-competition

6 Chern’ee Sutton https://www.cherneesutton.com.au/

7 Discover the visual journey of our RAP https://springmountservices.com/creating-art-for-an-important-journey/

8 NAIDOC history https://www.naidoc.org.au/about/history

9 Karawatha Forest Park https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/clean-and-green/natural-environment-and-water/bushland-reserves/karawatha-forest-park

10 Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/clean-and-green/natural-environment-and-water/environment-centres/karawatha-forest-discovery-centre

11 Cultural Cooking with Kieron the Quandamooka Chef Tickets https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/cultural-cooking-with-kieron-the-quandamooka-chef-tickets-153417871985

12 Bush Kindy – Nana Magic, Tilly, and friends! https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/bush-kindy-nana-magic-tilly-and-friends-tickets-162132270987

13 Aboriginal art and cultural workshop with Rick Roser https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/aboriginal-art-and-cultural-workshop-with-rick-roser-tickets-153415667391

14 Top 20 tips to get involved this NAIDOC Week https://www.naidoc.org.au/news/top-20-tips-get-involved-naidoc-week

15 Supply Nation https://supplynation.org.au/

16 Blak Business https://www.blakbusiness.com.au/