The Rural City of Wangaratta is supporting NAIDOC Week 2025 celebrations with several events between 6-13 July, 2025.

This year’s NAIDOC theme, 'The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy', marks a powerful milestone - 50 years of honouring Indigenous voices, culture and resilience.

It celebrates the achievements of the past and looks forward to a bright future led by strong young leaders, visionary communities, and the enduring legacy of our ancestors.

Council is partnering for the third consecutive year with the Bangerang Aboriginal Corporation and the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Education (ACHE) to deliver a vibrant, free, family event at Northern Beaches.

The free Bangerang NAIDOC Community Day next week is a unique opportunity for community to come together and connect with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, while also embracing the beauty and importance of our local environment.

“NAIDOC Week is a time to reflect, celebrate, and learn," Mayor Irene Grant said.

"We’re proud to support events that bring our community together in recognition of the rich cultural heritage of our First Nations peoples and the natural environment we all share.”

Bangerang NAIDOC Community Day will be held at Northern Beaches (near the Scout Hall on College Street) on Tuesday, 8 July from 11am-2pm, featuring:

• Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony;

• Bangerang culture including dance, weaving and woodworking;

• Flying Fruit Fly Circus workshops for kids;

• Animals of Oz live wildlife presentation;

• Kids art and face painting; and

• Free barbecue and soup

Other free events during NAIDOC Week include:

- film screening of The Crocker Island Exodus at Wangaratta Cinema Centre on Wednesday, 9 July from 7.15pm-8.30pm - booking required: https://events.humanitix.com/the-crocker-island-exodus-film-screening; and

- community weaving workshop with Margaret Murray at Wangaratta Library on Friday, 11 July from 10am-12pm - booking required: https://events.humanitix.com/naidoc-week-community-weaving.

NAIDOC Week is also a great opportunity for residents to reacquaint themselves with Wangaratta’s award-winning Bullawah Cultural Trail.

The trail takes you on a 2.4km self-guided walk along the Ovens River, uncovering ancient Aboriginal stories, spirituality, culture, food and sculptures.

More information can be found www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au/NAIDOC and www.naidoc.org.au.