The festivities were in full force for National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (NATSI) Children’s Day at Healesville Library on Friday 2 August.
Your Library in partnership with Oonah Aboriginal Health and Community Services and Yarra Ranges Council celebrated the day with over 100 community members.
Yarra Ranges councillor Fiona McAllister joined the event along with Oonah Playgroup, Queen’s Park Kinder and families who travelled from all over the Yarra Ranges to celebrate children and share culture.
Attendees enjoyed storytelling, opera singing and more with the help of special guest performer Shauntai Sherree Abdul-Rahman.
Shauntai, a proud Wiradjuri woman, living and working on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Boonwurrung land, sang in language including Woi Wurrung, read Open Your Heart to Country by Jasmine Seymour and helped children write a song about totem animals.
After Shauntai’s incredible performance, families created their totem animals in an art activity organised by the Oonah Aboriginal Health and Community Services team of Chloe, Nikki, Lea and Kayla.
Oonah also created a showcase of artworks and artefacts in the Healesville Library display.
All are welcome to come and view it for the month of August.
The event was wrapped up with a big morning tea, including lemon myrtle scones (all 100 of them) prepared by the Healesville Library staff Sabina Wills, Melissa Bilston, Rose Herring, Katie Gatward and Rachael Falls.
Funding of the morning tea was generously supported by Healesville RSL and Healesville Lions Club.
Carly Mawson from Yarra Ranges Council helped on the day and generously donated copies of The Way Bunjil Flies by Aunty Dot Peters for families to take home after the event.
The 2024 NATSI Children’s Day theme Strong in Culture, Stronger Together focuses on the strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children that comes from their connection to culture and mob.
This year, the library stands and celebrates with First Nations children, proud of their culture, stories, kin and community – all that makes these children special, resilient and the bright leaders of our collective future.
The library hopes this year’s event empowers children to feel proud of who they are and where they come from, and look forward to next year.
