THE resilience indigenous service people showed in World War I and II should be the message taken away from this year’s NAIDOC Week, according to Jamie Newman.
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The chair of the Orange Aboriginal Community Working Party and Orange mayor John Davis spoke about the NAIDOC Week theme Serving Country: Centenary and Beyond at the NAIDOC Week flag-raising ceremony in Robertson Park yesterday.
Mr Newman said the theme gave indigenous leaders a chance to educate the community about the significance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and women in the world wars.
“I see the biggest thing coming out of [World War I and II] is the overcoming and resilience of our people. There’s a lesson in there for us,” he said.
“We talk about resilience, but I see that as true resilience. They still put up their hands to defend this country, even when they weren’t recognised as citizens of this country.
“You need to apply that resilience to the challenges we face as a community; employment issues, education issues, racism and lack of opportunity.”
More than 1000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen fought in World War I and hundreds more served during World War II.
Mr Newman said this year’s theme was just the start of the education process, and there was still a long way to go for the younger generation to understand their history.
“[I want them to know] they can be proud of the fact that their families, directly or indirectly, contributed to the defence of freedom of this country,” he said.
“We’re trying to get more younger people involved in the NAIDOC committee, and more young people involved in NAIDOC week activities in general, because that’s how we have to change things.”
alexandra.king@fairfaxmedia.com.au