Coming Together for NAIDOC Week at Poppyfield Commons

There was a warm sense of gathering at Poppyfield Commons on Sunday as families, community members and visitors marked the beginning of NAIDOC Week. 

Held on Sunday, 5 July, the NAIDOC Opening Ceremony brought people together for an afternoon of culture, connection and shared learning.  The day began with a Welcome to Country by Aunty Violet followed by a Smoking Ceremony by TOAC, setting a respectful and reflective tone for the week ahead. 

This year’s NAIDOC theme, 50 Years of Deadly, marks an important milestone, celebrating 50 years of NAIDOC as a week-long celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history, strength and achievement.  It is a time to honour the Elders, artists, leaders, advocates, families and communities who have carried NAIDOC forward across generations, while recognising the stories, knowledge and connection to Country at the heart of the week. 

“At Poppyfield Commons, that spirit was reflected in a day shaped by creativity, participation and shared learning.”

The afternoon included the launch of the Sustainable Bush Tucker Garden, a bush tucker talk, boomerang painting, a NAIDOC poster exhibition, a reconciliation canvas painted by members of the community, and a colouring competition. 

A BBQ lunch was also provided by volunteers from Cuz’s Boxing Gym, with proceeds from sales going directly back to support the gym.  It was a generous contribution to the day and another example of local community groups coming together to support one another. 

Throughout the afternoon, the canvas became a shared point of connection.  Children, families and community members added their own colour and marks to the artwork, slowly building a piece that reflected the spirit of the day - many hands, many stories and one shared space. 

Some painted carefully, others added bright bursts of colour, and together the artwork grew into something that belonged to everyone who took part.   The canvas will also be available during Wednesday’s Weaving Day and Thursday’s Music Day, giving more people the chance to add to the shared artwork. 

Thomas Emmerson MLA also attended the event and spoke about the importance of recognising and elevating the voices of community members who are already doing great things.  He reflected on the privilege of being able to help share those stories through the Assembly, and to support events like NAIDOC Week at Poppyfield Commons being celebrated more widely. 

This year’s NAIDOC Week program at Poppyfield Commons is being held in partnership with Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation TOAC, with free events continuing across the week for families and community members. 

Following Sunday’s Opening Ceremony, Tuesday’s Language and Art Day continued the week’s spirit of learning and participation, with children from a local day care centre walking up to Poppyfield Commons to enjoy the activities. 

The program continues with Weaving Day on Wednesday 8 July, featuring a weaving workshop, NAIDOC treasure hunt, children’s activities and the canvas.  Thursday’s Music Day will include a rap workshop, clapsticks art workshop and further opportunities to contribute to the shared artwork. 

The week will close with NAIDOC Community Day on Saturday 11 July, with market stalls, food stalls, face painting, a reptile zoo, BBQ lunch, First Nations trivia, native bush drinks, live music by Stewart Barton, the colouring competition winner announced and a closing water ceremony.  

Across the week, Poppyfield Commons will continue to be a place for people to slow down, spend time together and take part in activities that celebrate First Nations knowledge, creativity and connection to Country. 

For The Tradies, it has been a privilege to help support this week of community events at Poppyfield Commons.  The space was created to bring people together, and Sunday’s opening was a beautiful example of what can happen when community is welcomed in - through art, conversation, culture, food and shared experience. 

As NAIDOC Week continues at Poppyfield Commons, the week is a reminder of the strength that comes from gathering, listening and learning together.  Through stories, art, food, language and shared time, community is strengthened on Ngunnawal Country.