Advocate, SONIA BYRNES – p.11 – 2 July 2012

LIVING communally between cultures is the NAIDOC message, which was illustrated in Devonport yesterday.
Red, yellow and black balloons and streamers decorated the Tiagarra Tasmanian Aboriginal museum and cultural centre, the didgeridoo sounded and the sausages sizzled as community, culture and country were celebrated.
A harmonious crowd gathered to mark the beginning of the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee annual week- long celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and contribution.
A flag-raising ceremony and address was given by Tiagarra co- ordinator David Gough on the bond in community and culture between Aboriginal and non-aboriginal people.
”This NAIDOC week is celebrating 40 years of the symbolic tent embassy, 50 years since the Aboriginal people have been able to vote and 36 years of Tiagarra being on the Bluff,” he said.
Mr Gough said the diversity of the crowd was a sign relationships between the Aboriginal and non- aboriginal people were moving forward.