Damper raises spirits at Mt Lockyer Primary School’s NAIDOC Week celebration

The smell of freshly cooked damper wafted through Mt Lockyer Primary School on Tuesday as students took part in a range of activities to celebrate NAIDOC Week.

Traditionally held in the first week of July every year, NAIDOC Week is a time to recognise the unique culture, history and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

National festivities have been put on hold until November this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, but that did not stop Mt Lockyer students from marking one of their favourite weeks of the school year.

History and health teacher Cheryleen Simpson said it was important to bring an Aboriginal perspective to the school curriculum.

This year’s theme of “Always was, always will be” recognises that First Nations people have occupied the continent for more than 65,000 years as one of the oldest continuing cultures on earth.

“It is a time where we get to share our culture with the rest of the community — that is why it is so important,” Ms Simpson said.

“We chose activities that associated with the ground, the sand, Australia and the Aboriginal culture.”

Students helped create six paintings to mark each Aboriginal season, crafted rain-makers, boomerangs, learnt basket weaving and, of course, cooked some delicious damper.

Ms Simpson said the students held out each year for the celebration to send off term two.

“They look forward to NAIDOC Week because it is a whole school celebration and we build up to it as well through our other subjects and our history unit so they know what’s coming up and they get really excited,” she said.

“They absolutely love it.”

The school will host another NAIDOC Week celebration in November.