Charles Darwin University will celebrate its “unsung heroes” as part of NAIDOC week 2010.
“Unsung heroes” is the focus of this week’s annual National Aboriginal and Islander celebrations that will see Indigenous Territorians take part in a week of family get togethers, flag raising ceremonies, youth art competitions, film nights and the annual NAIDOC march on Friday (9 July).
CDU Pro Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Leadership, Professor Steve Larkin paid homage to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander quiet achievers who had made great contributions to Australian society.
“Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have made an important difference to other people’s lives by being strong in themselves and strong in their culture,” he said.
Professor Larkin said these people had gone quietly about their business with a clear focus on “getting the job done” rather than seeking recognition from the wider community.
“As with all unsung heroes, they serve the most disadvantaged in society at great personal cost and self-sacrifice, and remain largely unrecognised,” he said.
“Our country is full of heroic people who are not prime ministers, or military leaders or millionaires. But mere words cannot express the significance of their actions in keeping alive the spirit of their cultures and communities.”
To mark the occasion CDU will hold an all-staff barbeque at Gurinbey Centre (Blue 2, Casuarina campus), 12 noon – 1pm, Thursday, 8 July.