Celebrating Indigenous Australian-Papua New Guinea linkages

Australian High Commission

The Australian High Commission in Port Moresby is hosting a special programme of events through to Thursday July 19 in celebration of the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee or NAIDOC Week.  

The programme began on Monday July 9 with a ceremony at the High Commission to raise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags alongside the Australian flag.

Raising of the flags: Australian High Commission second secretary Yasmine Davis raising the Torres Strait Islander flag, chief executive officer of Indigenous Community Volunteers Stephanie Harvey raising the Aboriginal flag and Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis raising the Australian flag.

This year two exceptional indigenous Australian women have been invited to participate in the programme – Stephanie Harvey, chief executive officer of Indigenous Community Volunteers and rising star in the music industry, Emily Wurramara.

The two week programme includes the formalisation of a partnership  between Papua New Guinea’s National Volunteer Service and Indigenous Community Volunteers and a creative collaboration between Emily Wurramara and Papua New Guinea’s top female artist, Mereani Masani, which includes performing for and mentoring youth in performance skills.

Australian High Commission second secretary Yasmine Davis, National Volunteer Service acting executive director  Molly Willie, National Volunteer Service council chairman Bernard Maladina, Secretary for Department of Youth Religion and Community Development Anna Solomon, Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis, chief executive officer of Indigenous Community Volunteers (ICV); Stephanie Harvey, co-chairman of ICV Board Bill Edwards, ICV general manager for business development and innovation Tom Layton and Australian High Commission second secretary; Jacqueline Herbert.

NAIDOC Week first emerged in the 1920s when Aboriginal groups sought to increase awareness on the status and treatment of indigenous Australians.

This year’s NAIDOC Week theme ‘Because Of Her, We Can!’ celebrates the important role that women have played, and continue to play, as active and significant role models at all levels of society.