By Dongyun Kwon
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day is coming back to Healesville Library after a huge success last year.
The event will be hosted from 10am to 11.30am on Friday 2 August by Healesville Library in partnership with Oonah Aboriginal Health and Community Services.
Your Library children’s services officer Rose Herring said this is the second time for the library to celebrate National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day.
“We had our first event in 2023 and it was such a great success,” she said.
“We had about 80 people attending last year.
“We’ve decided to bring it back bigger and better.”
The theme for National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day 2024 is ‘Strong in Culture, Stronger Together’.
There will be a story time, a craft activity and a special performance by First Nations artist Shauntai Sheree Abdul-Rahman along with morning tea.
Shauntai Sheree Abdul-Rahman is a proud Wiradjuri woman, living and working on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung land.
She is a multi-faceted vocalist and composer who effortlessly inhabits the worlds of opera, inspirational soul and gospel, classical composition and theatre-making.
“Shauntai is a principal artist with Short Black Opera, and has performed with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, for the Indigenous All Stars Basketball Round 2023, Port Fairy Spring Musical Festival and Australian Dance Theatre,” Ms Herring said.
“Shauntai is currently in the process of writing her first Australian Musical which is supported by Creative Victoria, inspired by the life of her late father Wally ‘Wait a While’ Carr an Indigenous boxer who is inducted in the Boxing Hall of Fame in Melbourne.”
Healesville Library is encouraging locals to come to the event and celebrate the special day together.
“It’s a free event with no bookings, and it’s suitable for families who have children aged zero to six years,” Ms Herring.
“We welcome everyone, it’s an event for everybody coming together in the spirit of reconciliation.
“Indigenous families and non-Indigenous families are all very welcome to come along and celebrate with us.”
The event is sponsored by the Lions Club of Healesville and Healesville RSL.
