NAIDOC Week has come to an end for another year and the Brewarrina Community certainly took it out with a great celebration on Friday evening 9 July. The Ball was held at the Brewarrina Community Hall with around 110 people attending. 

This night was organised by the dedicated NAIDOC Ball committee, of Karen Boney, Thomas French, Janelle Frail, Loreane Coffey, Geraldine Weatherall with assistance from the staff of the Brewarrina LALC.  

This was the first NAIDOC Ball since 2019 and it didn’t disappoint. 

Following a Welcome to Country by elder Mary Waites and a minute's silence, Mayoress Vivian Slacksmith made a speech and welcomed everyone to the night.  

She was then joined by Lillian Shearer (local Murrawarri woman) who was Master of Ceremonies for the night.  

Mayoress Slack-Smith presented the NAIDOC Awards to this year's high achieving community members. 

JANALEE CONROY received the award for OUTSTANDING SPORT ACHIEVEMENT.  "This award means a lot to me because Brewarrina is such a big part of who I am today," Ms Conroy said. "This community has shaped me as a person and to give back by doing what I'm passionate about brings me so much joy."  

Thomas Conroy accepting the award on behalf of his sister Janalee Conroy.

CHRISTOPHER MCHUGHES received RECOGNITION FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY   "Recognition - it's a top level type of proud, being recognised by my community is an even more top level of proud. This award is for Outstanding Contribution to community, thanks Brewarrina Local Aboriginal Land Council," said Mr McHughes.  

DOREEN MURPHY-WAITES received RECOGNITION FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY   

BREWARRINA ABORIGINAL CHILD AND FAMILY CENTRE was awarded for OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY  

BREWARRINA ABORIGINAL CULTURAL MUSEUM was presented with the award for OUTSTANDING BUSINESS   

Elder Sharon Coffey spoke about how she and her sister organised the first NAIDOC Ball.

The food was catered for by Kelly Hooper and her family with two Brewarrina teens, Anna-Mae Warraweena and Clayton Walsh waiting on the elders for the night.  

After dinner the local Walgett band "Under the Weather" kicked in much to the delight of the energetic crowd. The night went off without any dramas and the community fully enjoyed themselves. 

NAIDOC Week is a very significant time for all Indigenous Australians as its not only a time to celebrate their culture and to share it with everyone. It’s a time to reflect on the struggles and the sacrifice of the people who came before them.   

The team from the Brewarrina Local Aboriginal Land Council helped organise the event.